Zuni sweeps team titles at district meet

WINDOW ROCK
Behind 21 district champions the Zuni Thunderbirds swept the team titles at last week’s District 1-3A meet.

The Zuni girls team won 13 of the 19 events with several athletes winning multiple events under longtime coach Chris Carroll.

“This was our fifth district title in a row for the girls,” Carroll said. “They’ve been doing so well over the years and they’re just very determined in track and field.”

The Lady T-Birds racked up 139 points with second place Navajo Prep scoring 77.5 markers followed by Thoreau (70.5), Crownpoint (43), Wingate (42), Newcomb (38) and Tohatchi (36).

The T-Bird boys team won the district title with 118 points ahead of Tohatchi (106), Thoreau (105), Newcomb (45), Navajo Prep (43), Crownpoint (17) and Wingate (8).

“It was very tight and it was very exciting,” Carroll said of boys team standings while adding that the final margin was determined by the 4×400 and 3200-meter run.

“Tohatchi has a really good 4×400 and they led for the first two laps and then we were able to catch them the third and fourth lap,” Carroll said.

With a few second place finishers, Carroll is taking 11 girls and eight boys to the
Class 3A state meet, which will be held at the UNM Track Complex Friday and Saturday in Albuquerque.

At the district meet, freshman Emily Zunie capture four individual crowns in the 100 (13.04), 200 (26.96), 400 (1:02.93) and long jump (14-09).

She also helped one of the relay teams to a district title.

“She’s our top sprinter, and she’s done well this year,” Carroll said.

Zunie is seeded No. 1 in the 200 with a 26.59 effort in Class 3A. She is ranked third in the 100 at 13.04 and third in the 400 at 1:02.71.

“She’s really come along and she’s trained really hard this year,” he said. “That’s made a big difference for her.”

With those high rankings, Zunie is projected to make the podium in multiple events.

Last year, she earned one state medal with the medley relay team.

The Lady T-Birds also got a pair of individual crowns from seniors Shania Chavez and Fernadette Yatsatie.

Yatsatie won the 110 hurdles (19.47) and the triple jump (30-02). Chavez took gold in the 800 (2:33.88) and 1600 (5:38.15).

“She’s ranked fourth in the mile right now,” Carroll said of Chavez. “Last year she placed in the medley.”

In the relays, the Carroll-coached team showed its dominance by winning all five races. The Zuni girls recorded the following times: 4×100 (56.38), 4×200 (2:03.59), 4×400 (4:26.89), 4×800 (11:21.11) and sprint medley (5:04.65).

“The kids are really determined,” Carroll said. “They train hard, and they work a lot on their handoffs, and so it just comes together.”

Boys

Zuni senior Keeshaul Martinez led the T-Birds by winning the open 100 (11:56) and 200 (23.81). He also placed second in the 400 and third in the triple jump.

“Keeshaul is seeded around ninth, 10,” said Carroll while adding, “our best shot at state is gonna be our relays.”

Zuni also got first place finishes from senior Alec Lastyano and freshmen Deron Lastyano and Aaron Lehi at the district meet.

Alec Lastyano won the 800 in 2:07.78 while Lehi took gold in the 400 at 54.28 seconds and Deron Lastyano won the high jump (5-06) and 300-meter hurdles (44.69).

Carroll said Alec Lastyano has a good chance of making the podium as he earned seven qualifications for state.

“He’ll run the mile, the two-mile, 4×800, the medley at state,” Carroll said. “He’s going to drop the 800.”

The Zuni coach added that Alec is also going to compete in the triple jump.

---