Heartbreak Classic

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Oct 5, 2017 | Track & Field |

Navajo Prep sweeps team titles

WINDOW ROCK

Navajo Times | Ravonelle Yazzie
Wingate’s Latisha Lopez runs to the finish line on Saturday morning during the Heartbreak Classic cross-country meet at Navajo Pine High School. Lopez finished the 5K-course with a first finish of 23:49.

For most people, the Heartbreak Classic was not about turning in a fast time.

It was about toughness, says Navajo Prep Stephanie Zahne.

“Despite the weather they ran well and I had to remind myself that the times will be slower and I was pleased with their performance,” she said in an email response.

Last Saturday, Zahne’s coached team swept the team titles as a recent storm the night before did not keep the 330-plus individuals from the middle school and high school level from running the treacherous course that starts with a huge incline.

The girls team placed three runners in the top 10 and finished with a team score of 49 points with junior Alicia Dixon (24:40) lead the way with a second place finish.

“I did better than what I thought I would,” Dixon said. “I was so nervous before the race and I told my teammates about that and they encouraged me. I think that got me motivated to do well.”

The Eagles also got a fifth place effort from freshman Brandy Ray (25:52) and a 10th-place effort from Blossom Yellowhair (27:09).

In the team standing, Thoreau came in a distant second with 73 points followed by Wingate (93), Navajo Pine (101), Many Farms (112), Tohatchi (114), Crownpoint (117) and St. Michael (219).

In a much closer race, the Navajo Prep boys team racked up 43 points and finished ahead of Many Farms as the Lobos tallied 55 markers. Host Navajo Pine came in third with 62 points in front of Thoreau (72), Tohatchi (131), Wingate (149), Crownpoint (149), Pine Hill (247) and Red Valley-Cove (251).

The Eagles also placed three runners in the top 10 and, ironically, in the exact same order as the girls team with senior Cameron Becenti (19:17) finishing second. Sophomore Marley Deschiney (19:43) came in fifth and junior Dante Barton (20;28) placed 10th overall.

“As a team we have talked about the significance of each person in a race,” Zahne said, while citing those aforementioned runners as for helping the team win their titles on Saturday.

Individually, Wingate junior Latisha Lopez won the girls race with a time of 23:49 while the boys title was claimed Many Farms senior Jarren Teller as he crossed the finish line 18:53.

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