Náshdóíítsoh Invitational: KC boys, girls take second behind Durango

TOHATCHI, N.M. – The Kirtland Central boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams finished second in the team standings at last Friday’s Náshdóíítsoh Invitational.

The Lady Broncos placed three runners in the top 10 while its fourth and fifth runner took 27th and 40th, respectively, for a team score of 94 points.

The KC boys finished with a lower score of 59 points as it placed all five members in the top 20 headed by the first-place finish from junior Dathan Esson.

The two teams finished behind Durango High School as the Colorado powerhouse ran away with the team titles. The Lady Demons won the meet with 24 markers while the boys scored 29 points that featured nine total teams in both races.

Individually, Durango High’s Sofia Voss won the girls crown in 20:22.64 minutes while Esson took the boys title in 17:20.84 on the rugged 3.0-mile running course on Hamburger Hill.

“This course was a lot of fun,” the KC ace runner said. “The hills were a real challenge for a lot of us, but I believe I have the mental strength to push myself through courses like this.”

Esson was part of the lead pack and with about a mile left he started to distance himself from Durango runner Charlie Dillman, who clocked in 14 seconds back at 17:34.74 for second place.

“I could hear him breathing behind me,” Esson said of Dillman.

But halfway through the backstretch of the course, the KC runner started to push himself.

“When I looked back, he wasn’t there with me anymore,” he said.

Esson said winning the Náshdóíítsoh meet bodes well for his next race, which will be held Saturday at the UNM Lobo Invitational.

“This is very encouraging, especially with Durango being here,” he said. “I felt nervous going in, but after winning this I feel great about my next meet. We’ll see some fast runners there because UNM has a flat course.”

At the Tohatchi-hosted meet, KC also got a top finish from sophomore Raymond Hunt, who placed eighth overall. The rest of the team included 16th, 18th and 19th place finishes from Ethan Billey, Devon Charley and Isaiah Dan.

“I think the team did really well today,” Esson said. “We looked strong coming in, and that’s very encouraging to see.”

In the girls’ race, the Lady Broncos were paced by sophomore Kaiden Esson, who placed eighth overall at 23:32.43.

She finished ahead of teammates Johnaya Tyler (23:45.25) and Haylee Nocki (23:57.60) as the two runners placed ninth and 10th overall.

The Broncos also got a 27th and 42nd place finish from Bryanne Morgan and Katana Hunt.

“This course was pretty hard,” Kaiden Esson said. “I got tired halfway through it, but my teammates pushed me. I’m nothing without them, so I really appreciate them encouraging me.”

Esson said she’s looking to make up for the so-so season she had last year.

“I hyperextended my knee last year and that pushed me back,” she said. “I really want to improve and just give it my all.”

Tyler is looking to do the same as she is looking to medal at state later this year.

“I’m satisfied with my finish, but I’ll keep improving,” she said. “I’ll keep pushing myself mentally and physically.

“It’s all mental,” she added. “You just got to think strong.”

The junior harrier said she used a positive attitude to overcome the rough terrain during last Friday’s race.

“The course was real sandy and hilly,” Tyler said. “And with the rocks, you had to watch your footing, so it made it more challenging.”

Nocki said she tweaked her ankle on the rocky terrain.

“The rocks got to me,” she said. “I felt like I kept a good pace but then I started to slow down because my calves were about to cramp up.”

---