Santa Fe, NM- Fourteen American Indian student-athletes have been selected to represent Wings at the 2014 USAT&F Cross Country Championships in Boulder, CO on February 15, 2014. Both a men’s and women’s team will compete in the Junior division amongst some of the nation’s top recruits. Laverne Lomakema of Hopi Senior High and Sampson Sage of Piedra Vista HS (Farminton, NM) have been named honorary coaches for the squad. 

 

Wings of America has fielded an all-Native contingent at the USA Cross Country Championships since 1988. As Wings runners step to the line on February, 15th, they will be chasing the organization’s 25th national team title in 26 years. The 2014 Wings National Team is comprised of the top late-season performers in an applicant pool of over 75 young runners from across Native America. Each applicant competed on their high school or college cross country team during the fall of 2013 to prepare for one of eleven regional qualifying races sanctioned by Wings. Team members will receive workouts and training guidance from the Program Director and honorary coaches through the winter. Travel expenses and team uniforms will be provided by the organization in February.  

 

Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Wings of America is a not-for-profit [501(c)3] organization. The mission of Wings is to enhance the quality of life for American Indian youth. In partnership with Native communities, Wings uses running as a catalyst to empower American Indian and Alaskan Native youth to take pride in themselves and their cultural identity, leading to increased self esteem, health and wellness, leadership and hope, balance and harmony.

 

 

Selected Athlete (Tribal Affiliation), School, Town

Binahnii Curley (Navajo), Central Arizona College, Coolidge, AZ

Donevan Gravelle (Laguna Pueblo), Taos HS, Taos, NM

Jordan Lesansee (Jemez Pueblo/Zuni Pueblo), Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque, NM

Shawvan Levi (Navajo), Shiprock HS, Shiprock, NM

Anthony Masayesva (Hopi), Tuba City HS, Tuba City, AZ

Brian Masayesva (Hopi), Tuba City HS, Tuba City, AZ

Niles Thomas (Navajo), Miyamura HS, Gallup, NM

Jordan Lesansee

 

Kimberly Chapman (Zuni Pueblo), Cibola HS, Albuquerque, NM

Daangoina Haven (Navajo), Ganado HS, Ganado, AZ

Hope Johnson (White Mountain Apache), Cibola HS, Albuquerque, NM

Annoesika Laughlin (Navajo), Navajo Pine HS, Navajo, NM

Courtney Lewis (Fort Mojave/Hopi), River Valley HS, Fort Mohave, AZ

Valene Madalena (Jemez Pueblo/Navajo), Jemez Valley HS, Jemez Pueblo, NM

Maricia Pacheco (White Earth Ojibwe), Farmington Senior HS, Farmington, MN

Annoesika Laughlin