Competing against the best

Wings to begin team selection at NB3Fit Day

WINDOW ROCK

The number of success stories is endless.

Since 1989, Wings of America has opened a lot doors for countless Native America runners. With the 30th anniversary fast approaching, program director Dustin Martin said he’s excited about hitting that milestone.

“When you look at the numbers, the Wings national team has captured 28 junior national titles,” he said. “The first team in 1989 is what started the momentum.”

Martin said that year both the boys and girls national teams shocked everyone by winning their respective titles.

Since then there have been countless individuals that have benefitted from being part of the Wings national team and have excelled at the next level.

Just recently, former Bacone College standout Jackson Thomas, Diné, won three national titles. Thomas was crowned the 2016 NAIA Cross-Country Champion and during the track season he was a two-time national champion in the indoor mile.

“He was one of my first recruits when I took over the program in 2011,” Martin said.

Besides Jackson, Martin cited runners Daan Haven, Courtney Lewis and Chamique DuBoise – teammates on the Arizona State University women’s cross-country team.
“They are all part of the traveling team,” Martin said. “That is really cool to see.”

Martin said part of their success can be attributed to being part of the national team.

“They took those experiences with them. They feel confident competing against the best in the nation, if not the world,” he said. “That is something we want to continue to offer for our younger runners. We want to continue to foster them and it’s our hope that they’ll see themselves in that light one day.”

Martin said there are a number of ways to get qualified for the 2018 national team, which starts with the NB3Fit Day National XC Race on Nov. 11 at the Santa Ana Golf Course in Bernalillo, New Mexico.

Athletes can also get qualified through the Nike Cross Regionals and the Footlocker Regionals. The Nike Regionals will be held on Nov. 18 at the Casa Grande Sports Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona. The Footlocker Regional will take place Dec. 2 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California.

As for the qualifying race at the Santa Ana Golf Course, Martin said they are excited to take part of the event for the second year in a row.

“They came to us last fall,” Martin said of the Notah Begay III Foundation. “They wanted to get into supporting running programs and we were thrilled to be a part of it. They have shown a commitment with their event and it’s becoming a national initiative to get as many people moving on that day.”

For that race, Martin said they are going to invite 10 (5 boys, 5 girls) all-star high school teams from the rez to compete in the NB3 event.

Martin said he’s hoping to create team unity and accountability with the training camp as a way to prepare for the USA Cross-Country Championship scheduled for Feb. 3 at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.

“In the past you could tell when we got to the competition not everyone was devoted to their training. They were not giving themselves a fair shake at a USTA competition,” he said. “The training camp is an effort to make sure those selected athletes feel accountable to their teammates.”

Martin said having them run together over the winter break will also give them chance to know each other.

---