Runners test fitness level at Narbona Pass

NARBONA PASS, N.M. – The annual Narbona Pass Classic draws runners from all ages and varying running levels.

Some participants choose to walk the 5K and 10K courses high atop the Chuska Mountains at roughly 9,370 feet. And then there are others that use the rigorous course to test their fitness level.

Former Zuni High standout Kameron Eustace used the latter to assess his running ability on the 10K course that features a couple of steep inclines at the start of the race on Sunday morning.

“This is my first time here and I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Eustace, who was the male overall winner. “I’m happy that I got to experience this, and to be honest, I came here to have fun.”

Eustace completed the grueling race in 37:12.39 as he beat out high school and college running mate Kyle Awelagte for the title as the 10K race had 324 runners registered.

Awelagte was clocked in at 37:50.72 with fellow Zuni runner Joseph Harker placing third at 38:36.35.

“I didn’t know what the end result was going to be, but taking second place, especially at Narbona, is a really great thing to do,” Awelagte said. “It was a grueling course, but I had some people that I know who helped me get that position. There was another Zuni runner, Joseph, who was right beside me. It was good to be running with them because we pushed each other.”

The three runners were far off the course record of 34:07 that was set in 2009 by Kenya runner Nicholas Kipruto, who captured the 2008 USCAA Cross Country Championships in Buena Vista, Virginia, while attending nearby Diné College.

Nicole Tsosie of Chinle was the female winner, coming in 31st overall at 52:03.86. The 18 year-old improved her time by nearly two minutes from last year’s third-place finish.

“I felt like I was more prepared this year,” Tsosie said. “The first time I ran this race, it was pretty hard. I ran it a second time last year, and it was still pretty hard but after you do it a few times it gets a little bit better.”

Canadian elite runner Angela Chalmers has the women’s course record of 40:50, a mark she set in 1987. Chambers is best known for earning the bronze medal in the 3000-meter run during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

Tsosie, who graduated from Navajo Prep this past spring, finished 31st overall as she worked her way up after completing the first two miles that was mostly uphill.

“I kind of paced off one of my co-worker,” Tsosie said of Glendale Allen, a facilitator for the nonprofit Wings of America.

“I wanted to beat him,” she said. “I followed him up the hill, but he took off downhill. Once I reached the hill, I started to fall apart.”

Nonetheless, Tsosie did surpass two other female runners in the final two miles en route to the win.

“This was a difficult race because I was kind of sick this week,” said Tsosie, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cyber security and business administration at Northeastern University in Boston.

Eustace, who graduated high school in 2022, finished his two-year eligibility at Trinidad State College (Colorado) this past spring.

“My experience at Trinidad was a lot different than high school,” Eustace said. “It was a hard transition as far as the mileage I was putting in as a collegiate runner. In high school I never ran on Sundays, and now I’m running seven days a week.

“My workouts are a lot faster, and I’m logging in more miles,” he added. “I try to get in 70 to 80 miles a week.”

Eustace will continue his collegiate career in the fall, running for the CSU-Pueblo team.

Awelagte also attended Trinity State College, and he is set on joining the Fort Lewis College men’s cross-country team.

5K race

Due to a mix-up with the bibs issued to the runners for the 5K race, the timing chip registered Lelaney Benally as the overall winner.

But in actuality it was Holbrook junior Bearren Kee, who won the race in 18:40.37 with Kirtland Central senior Dathan Esson placing second at 19:14.85 as this race featured 336 racers.

In 15th place, New Mexico Highlands University harrier Jewels Leslie was the top female finisher, coming in at 25:15.57.

“I was really nervous because this is my first race in like 10 months,” Leslie said. “I haven’t done a lot of training or preparation because of the injuries I had. I wasn’t expecting too much but I’m glad that I got the race over with.”

Leslie injured her back at home to where she was bedridden.

“I could barely walk and my (college) coach told me to sit out for six months and that was mentally heart-breaking,” the former Wingate runner said. “My pain then went to my hips, and it felt like everything hit me at once. This past year was a struggle. For my senior season I want to finish out my last season pain free.

“I want to enjoy this last stretch,” she added.

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