Hopi’s storied boy’s cross-country program featured on ESPN

Posted by Navajo Times | Jul 28, 2016 | Track & Field |

File photo
Hopi runner Howard Anfernee led the Bruins to the 2013 Division IV state title with a second place finish. The Hopi boys cross-country team was featured on ESPN this past Sunday.

KEAMS CANYON, Ariz.

Hopi Bruins’ incredible string of 26 consecutive Arizona high school boy’s cross-country state championship was featured on ESPN this past Sunday.

Hopi’s storied program set a national record with the amount of consecutive state titles.

Rick Baker, who has coached all of the Bruins’ state championships, said the feature gave the program, school, villages and Hopi Nation exposure.

“Throughout the history of the cross-country program, I am very proud of all the runners,” Baker said humbly. “The runners won the state championships. The runners listened to the coaching staff. The runners worked hard. Every year the runners say they don’t want to be the team to break the consecutive state championships.”

Hopi Athletic Director Ricky Greer said the feature was top notch from the production side to the actual stories they depicted. He said ESPN did a great job of highlighting Baker by showing just how fantastic a coach he is but also showing what drives him and how he strives daily to impact our students’ lives positively.

“I think it also has a chance to leave a lasting legacy because of the way it showed that running is such a key component to the Hopi culture and way of life,” he said. “But also in helping so many of our students face and overcome their daily hardships. If I was a movie critic, I would give it two thumbs up.”