Gallup's Theodore Roundface finishing his race in 1st place
On a brisk Saturday morning, only two days shy of March is where cross country action kicked off at the Spring Curtis Williams Invitational. The theme of the day was adapting to new safety protocols, courses absent of spectators narrowed starts and finishing chutes have disappeared. Yet with the bare minimum of what we have come to familiarize with the sport, what remains is the diligent meet staff that came together to ensure competition, comradery among teammates to cheer on one another throughout the race, and the sheer will power that these athletes possess when overcoming obstacles in their path.
Per the Governor's orders, masks must be worn by everyone in attendance. Athletes participating must wear a mask during the competition. Waivers shall not be accepted. Masks cannot be removed during competition or thrown on the course at any time.
2021 Spring Curtis Williams Invitational Results -2021 Spring Curtis Williams Invitational Photos - 2019 Curtis Williams Invitational Results - NM Results Central
On the boys' side, Miyamura and Tohatchi ran enough boys for a scoring five with Miyamura's runners all falling within the top 11 finishers. Tayan Benson separated himself early on from the pack claiming his first win of the year in 19:02 (nearly a minute ahead of 2nd place finisher). Following behind Benson were teammate George Piestewa and Gallup freshmen Theodore Roundface.
BOYS 5000 METER RUN FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT POINTS 1 Tayan Benson 11 Miyamura High School 19:02.76 1 2 George Piestewa 11 Miyamura High School 20:01.76 2 3 Theodore Roundface 9 Gallup High School 20:05.03 0 4 Melvin Scott 11 Tohatchi High School 20:42.60 3 5 Jimmie Chavez III 11 Tohatchi High School 20:43.75 4 6 Shance Johnson-Hood 11 Miyamura High School 21:32.15 5 7 Sergio Chavarria 11 Miyamura High School 21:41.87 6 8 Micah Tsosie 12 Navajo Pine High School 21:50.21 0 9 Kendon Augare-Deal 9 Gallup High School 22:22.36 0 10 Lane Begay 12 Thoreau High School 22:22.36 0 11 Mckay Evans 11 Ramah High School 22:27.66 0 12 Kordell Mcmillan 11 Crownpoint High School 22:45.44 0 13 Ladainian Willie 11 Crownpoint High School 22:45.62 0 14 Wesley Donaldson 9 Navajo Pine High School 23:09.77 0 15 Rodney Joe 10 Tohatchi High School 23:37.96 7 16 Kiefer Yazzie 11 Thoreau High School 23:57.59 0 17 Josiah Livingston 12 Gallup High School 24:16.03 0 18 Jared Peterson 9 Tohatchi High School 24:46.33 8 19 Louis Bear Eagle 11 Thoreau High School 25:38.03 0 20 Joshua Helfenbein 9 Miyamura High School 25:53.16 9 21 Chandler Whitman 10 Miyamura High School 26:06.59 10 22 Brandon Henry 11 Miyamura High School 26:19.93 11 23 Karlisle Francisco 12 Navajo Pine High School 27:57.06 0 24 Jacob Yazzie 9 Tohatchi High School 39:01.08 12
On the girls' side, A more traditional team competition took place with Miyamura overcoming a challenge from Gallup, Crownpoint, and Ramah's scoring five. Similar to Benson but more dominant in her approach, Lorianna Piestewa was in her own realm as she claimed a two-minute and twenty-five-second margin of victory. Just look at this finishing stride as she stormed down the final stretch (see below). Crownpoint's Tyra Tsosie and Tohatchi's WynterRose Sheka finished out the top 3.
GIRLS 5000 METER RUN FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT POINTS 1 Lorianna Piestewa 9 Miyamura High School 22:55.51 1 2 Tyra Tsosie 9 Crownpoint High School 25:20.77 2 3 WynterRose Sheka 8 Tohatchi High School 25:31.31 0 4 Kaleia Vicenti 12 Miyamura High School 26:02.54 3 5 Jordan Watson 12 Gallup High School 26:47.83 4 6 Merisha Long 9 Gallup High School 27:27.89 5 7 Aleeya Lambson 9 Ramah High School 27:29.54 6 8 TaSheena Thompson 11 Miyamura High School 28:13.14 7 9 Kaleigh Shorty 11 Crownpoint High School 28:22.35 8 10 Brook Badonie 9 Tohatchi High School 28:27.98 0 11 Lydia Lambson 8 Ramah High School 28:44.08 9 12 Shanell Edsitty 11 Thoreau High School 28:46.60 0 13 Janaya Tom 10 Crownpoint High School 28:57.58 10 14 Talia Blackgoat 9 Gallup High School 29:45.45 11 15 Shanoah Platero 10 Miyamura High School 30:29.85 12 16 Jaymi Watson 10 Gallup High School 30:56.60 13 17 Shamika Maria 12 Ramah High School 31:20.84 14 18 Yanibah Begay 10 Gallup High School 31:41.21 15 19 LarrAnn Delgarito 9 Thoreau High School 32:59.07 0 20 Janay Peterson 8 Tohatchi High School 34:38.79 0 21 Jalynn Lucario 10 Crownpoint High School 34:46.27 16 22 Penelope Maria 9 Ramah High School 35:02.01 17 23 Iinanibah Johnson 9 Crownpoint High School 35:33.39 18 24 Erin Henry 10 Miyamura High School 36:34.69 19 25 Aubrey Tah 10 Miyamura High School 37:21.14 20 26 Aliyah Gorman 12 Navajo Pine High School 42:09.76 0 27 Bailey Adeky 8 Ramah High School 43:04.38 21 28 Rolonda Chacho 12 Thoreau High School 44:39.39 0 29 Loxitawny Cambell 9 Miyamura High School 47:58.50 22
Looking ahead
The most notable crutch being quite visible is the mandatory mask requirement that unfortunately will hinder athlete performance. To witness competitive races with medical masks on athletes is something I never could have imagined becoming reality until actually witnessing it. From the body language of the runners, you can see the awkwardness, the fatigue of such a liability, and still, the performances were phenomenal given the circumstances. To consider every athlete is on the same playing field and handling the cards NM runners have been dealt. Throwing times out the window, for the time being, we can expect the same level of competitiveness from district rivals, cross-state foes, and even teammate battles just as we have in the past.
Meets coming up include a meet hosted by NMMI in Roswell, while the Totah XC Invite and Kirtland Bronco Ridge Runner up north as the remaining schools gear up for action a week out from districts.