Tsé Yi’ Gai junior meets 1A state qualification in 3200-meter race

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Apr 9, 2026 | Track & Field |

REHOBOTH, N.M.

Tsé Yi’ Gai junior Taysen Begay ran his first 3200-meter race on Saturday for the 2026 track season.

Begay finished the eight-lap race in 11 minutes, 7.12 seconds at the High Desert Classic. With that, the Tsé Yi’ Gai runner beat the New Mexico Class 1A state qualification by 24.88 seconds.

“It’s a decent time, but I could have gotten out faster and I could have run a sub-11,” Begay said of his performance. “But I’m happy with what I did in my opener.”

The 3200-meter race had 22 entries with Begay finishing second behind Zuni runner Jeremiah Eisenga, who clocked in at 10:42.59.

“This is a start,” Begay said of his achievement. “I hoping to get qualified in the 800 and 1600, too.”

During Saturday’s Rehoboth meet, Begay also ran a leg in the 4×400 (fourth, 4:32.11) and the Sprint Medley (seventh, 4:27.10) relay races. Moreover, he took part in the open 400 as he improved his season best by 3.73 seconds in the one-lap race.

Begay was clocked in at 56.69 seconds for ninth place as that race was won by East Mountain’s Aiden Ericksen, who clocked in at 53.80 seconds.

The Diné Warrior athlete nearly earned his second state qualification as he came up short by nearly nine-tenths of a second.

“I ran in one of the faster heats,” Begay said. “It was good to run against 2A, 3A and 4A competition.”

Last season, Begay made state in the 1600 and 3200 and he earned his first state medal by placing sixth in one-mile race, clocking in at 5:05.90.

“It was a good feeling to get on that podium,” said Begay, while adding that he’s looking to get multiple medals at the state meet this year.

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