Favorites run away at Zuni cross-country Invite Zuni boys, Miyamura’s Thomas stays perfect
Miyamura’s Nile Thomas leads a pack of runners during the Oct. 11 Zuni Invitational in Zuni, N.M. Thomas won the race in 16:26 while the Zuni boys edged Laguna-Acoma by a mere point for the team title. (Times photo – Paul Natonabah)
East Mountain’s Addison Rauch maintains a slight edge over Window Rock’s Chamique Duboise at the Zuni Invite on Oct. 11 in Zuni, N.M. Chamique won the race in 19:36 while Rauch came in second. (Times photo – Paul Natonabah)
ZUNI, N.M.
As two of the area’s best cross-country teams, the Zuni Thunderbirds and the Shiprock Lady Chieftains are used to having a target on their backs.
The same could be said for Patriot standout Niles Thomas and Window Rock sophomore Chamique Duboise.
Since the start of the 2014 season they have become household names in the prep cross-country scene.
On Saturday at the Zuni Patason Amesoli Invitational, the Chieftains claimed the girls’ title with 42 points while Duboise ran away with the individual crown, winning the 5K-race in 19 minutes, 36 seconds.
In the boys’ portion, the aforementioned juggernaut kept his perfect record intact with Thomas dominating the 5K-race.
The Miyamura junior saw some good competition early on but as the race wore on he did not ease up on the gas pedal.
“At the start of the race I felt comfortable,” said Thomas, who has won five straight meets heading into this weekend’s Rio Rancho Jamboree. “I just let the runners stay behind me and I made sure they did not catch me.” Thomas said he maintained his pace and because of that he increased his lead and won the meet in 16:26.
East Mountain’s Alex Heffelfinger finished a distant second with a time of 16:53, which was five seconds ahead of Window Rock’s Nathaniel Henio.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow