Defending champions picking up where they left off in 2015
Navajo Times | Adron Gardner Page Lady Sand Devil Mariah Yazzie won the varsity girls race with a winning time of 20 minutes, 14.8 seconds at the Hopi Invitational in Polacca, Arizona Tuesday.
KEAMS CANYON, Ariz.
Page’s defending state champion girls’ and boys’ cross-country team and individual state champion Chinle senior Santiago Hardy picked up where they left off last fall.
Page’s girls’ team netted 41 points en route to earning the championship at the Hopi Cross-Country Invitational this past Tuesday. The Ganado Lady Hornets claimed second place, chalking up 64 points.
“I was surprised,” said Page head coach MacArthur Lane. “I thought Window Rock would challenge us. Our girls did a good job. The girls worked hard to earn second place. Window Rock finished second place at last fall’s state meet behind us and I was figuring they would challenge us. We will improve and Window Rock will improve. I’m sure they will improve as well.”
Page placed three harriers in the top eight positions. Page senior Mariah Yazzie was the girls’ individual champion. Yazzie toured the grueling 5K course in 20:14.
“I felt good throughout the race,” Yazzie said. “The hot weather didn’t bother me. For most of the race, Window Rock’s Chamique DuBoise led the race. Twice, we passed each other. When I entered the gate just before the end of the race, I pushed myself. I trained all summer. I know Chamique. Chamique and I were Wings of America teammates.”
Tripper Tate was Page’s second finisher, crossing the finish line in fifth place with a 21:48. Kloe Littleman garnered eighth place with a 2:40 showing. Sofia Bryan (11th, 23:05) and Zhanna Edwards (19th, 24:11) rounded out Page’s scoring runners.
Window Rock senior Chamique DuBoise garnered second place. Duboise breezed through the course in 20:16.
“It was a good race,” DuBoise. “I felt comfortable throughout the race. Page’s Mariah Yazzie ran a good race. It was hot, but others had to race in the same weather conditions. I held back and underestimated my competition. It was a learning experience for me. I want to have a better race at the University of New Mexico Invitational this Saturday.”
To read the full article, pick up your copy of the Navajo Times at your nearest newsstand Thursday mornings!
Are you a digital subscriber? Read the most recent three weeks of stories by logging in to your online account.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow