Zuni turns heads in early track season

Posted by Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi | Apr 4, 2019 | Track & Field |

SHIPROCK

Special to the Times | Curtis Ray Benally

Zuni’s DeShawn Goodwin and Jarek Chimoni-Zunie finished 1-2 in the boys’ 3200-meter run on Friday, Mar. 29, at the Shiprock Invitational. Goodwin finished with the time of 10:30.85 and Chimoni-Zunie 10:31.83.

It only took one meet for Zuni runner DeShawn Goodwin to get his distance running legs back.

Goodwin missed out on the first couple of meets in the track and field season, but made his debut for the season at the Shiprock Invite last Friday, where he placed first in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter run. He finished in a time of 4:58.55 in the mile and 10:30.85 in two mile.

He said the goal going into the meet was simple and he was happy to carry it out.

“I haven’t been running lately, I’ve been busy with other stuff at home,” he said. “This is my first meet back right now. I just wanted to give it whatever I got.”

Goodwin had a strong lead in the 1600 and kept it throughout most of the race leading into the final lap.

He carried the same momentum into the final distance race and finished in a tight race with teammate Jarek Chimoni-Zunie.

The Zuni team turned heads in the 1600 race, taking the first five positions. Goodwin finished in first, Jacy Edaakie in second, Evan Chapito in third, Kameron Eustance in fourth, and Demekius Lowsayatee in fifth.

Shiprock’s Elana Hardy finished first in the girls’ 1600-meter race in a time of 6:02.28. She finished just ahead of Wingate’s Jewels Leslie, and teammate Khadija Lapahie, who finished third.
Hardy said she’s continuously made improvements this season, finishing near the top of every race in the team’s last two meets.

“I’ve been doing pretty close to my past times form other seasons,” she said. “I just want to keep improving it.”