by Wings National Team Members Return Home Victorious
Native youth represent their Tribes at USA Cross Country Championships.
On Feburary 2, 2019, 16 of the fastest Native American runners in the country competed in the “junior” (19 & under) age division race at the USA Cross Country Championships. Hosted by USA Track & Field at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, FL, this competition served as the qualifier for the IAFF World Cross Country Championships to be hosted in Denmark in March. Under the guidance of honorary coach and former Wing National Team member Kyle Fast Wolf (Oglala Lakota), Wings runners toed the starting line with many college freshmen from Division-I Universities across the United States.
Lead by Lee Nasewytewa (Pima/Hopi) from the Gila River Indian Community, the men’s team captured the organization’s 31st National Team Title. The women finished runners up behind North Carolina State. Runners in both races were required to run a longer distance than the customary 5-kilometers contested during the high school season. The men added nearly two miles to their regular race distance completing an 8-kilometer course while the women raced 6-kilometers. Aliandrea Upshaw (Diné) lead the women’s team with a finishing time of 22:25.
Aside from competing, the Wings National Team visited the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Florida State University’s Center for Indigenous Nursing Research for Health Equity (INRHE). Students were encouraged to continue their pursuit of excellence in both athletics and academics by The Center’s executive director, Dr. John Lowe (Eastern Cherokee). “Even at a University proud to represent the ‘unconquered’, we need more student-athletes like you to show our community what that really looks like”, said Dr. Lowe.
Runners were selected for the Wings National Team based on their performance at
post-season championship races, including Nike Cross Regionals and Footlocker Regionals. After an open registration period in which runners identified themselves as eligible for selection, those men and women with the 7 fastest times plus 1 alternate were invited to be a part of the team. A total of 49 student-athletes representing 14 Native American Tribes registered to be considered for selection to the 2019 team. This is the 31st consecutive year Wings has sponsored Native youth to complete in this national competition.
The 2019 Wings National Team (ordered alphabetically)
(Name, High School, Grade, Hometown, Tribal Affiliation(s), Qualifying Mark(s), Qualifying Race(s))
*Denotes runner that has made a previous Wings National Team
| Men | Women |
| Triston Charles, Piedra Vista HS, 11th, Farmington, NM, Diné, 15:59, NXR SW (Large School Open) | *Chamique DuBoise, University of New Mexico, Freshman, Vanderwagen, NM, Diné, 18:42, NXR SW (Citizen’s Race) |
| Galvin Curley, Navajo Pine HS, 11th, Navajo, NM, Diné, 15:56, NXR SW (Small School Open) | Rosalie Fish, Muckleshoot Tribal School, 12th, Bonney Lake, WA, Cowlitz, 18:53, NXR SW (Small School Open Race) |
| DeShawn Goodwin, Zuni HS, 11th, Zuni Pueblo, NM, Zuni, 15:52, NXR SW (Medium School Open II) | *Alisia Honyumptewa, Chinle HS, 11th, Chinle, AZ, Diné, 19:17, NXR SW (Small School Race) |
| Jonathan Fragua, V. Sue Cleveland HS, 10th, Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs/Jemez, 16:04, NXR SW (Championship Race) ALTERNATE | Reilly Deirdre McClanahan, Eldorado HS, 12th, Albuquerque, NM, Diné, 18:22, NXR SW (Championship Race) |
| *Bowen Martin, Page HS, 11th, Page, AZ, Diné, 16:09, NXR SW (Championship Race) | Tiajhae Nez, Kirtland Central HS, 12th, Kirtland, NM, Diné, 19:10, NXR SW (Large School Open) ALTERNATE |
| Michael Marshall, Navajo Pine HS, 11th, Navajo, NM, Diné, 14:48, NXR SW (Small School Open) | *Precious Robinson, Pinon HS, 12th, Pinon, AZ, Diné, 17:57, NXR SW (Championship Race) |
| Ty McCray, Miyamura HS, 12th, Thoreau, NM, Diné, 15:52, NXR SW (Championship Race) | *Jasmine Turtle-Morales, Eldorado HS, 10th, Albuquerque, NM, Cochiti/Mescalero Apache/Hopi, 17:56, NXR SW (Championship Race) |
| *Steven “Lee” Nasewytewa, Desert Vista HS, Ahwatukee, AZ, 12th, Laveen, AZ, Gila River Pima, 16:00, NXR SW (Championship Race) | *Ali Upshaw, St. Michael Indian School, 10th, Ft. Defiance, AZ, Diné, 19:24/19:27, FL West (Seeded Race)/NXR SW (Championship Race) |
I’m so proud of these young people of native origin and I have deep respect for their efforts and motivation and accomplishments. I hope they continue to make a difference and inspire other young people.