Raider and Cougar cross country teams get solid performances at John Thornton Invite in Blanding

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
Whitehorse freshman Keiarra Martin has been just about unstoppable this season. Of the five races she had competed in coming into the past week, she had won four.
She added a fifth victory on Wednesday, October 4 at the John Thornton Invitational in Blanding. Martin also got a little revenge on Grand County runners Cadence and Ainsleigh Kasprick who beat her at the Red Rock Invite on September 27.
Martin came across the line in 20:03 this past Wednesday, nine seconds ahead of Cadence and 38 seconds ahead of Ainsleigh. She was a full 1:16 quicker than Monticello’s top runner Marah Long who finished fourth.
The Lady Raiders finished in fourth place as a team at the John Thornton Invite, which isn’t too shabby for a team that hasn’t registered a team score in all their meets this season.
Behind Martin Heidi Clark was next to finish for the Whitehorse girls, in 20th with a time of 24:29. Hannah Clark secured 24th place with a 25:24 performance.
Harmony Thomas was next across in 42nd overall with a time of 27:55. Meagan Morgan was 45th in 28:13, Shantel Begay was 51st in 29:31, and Rayauna Lee rounded out the team in 71st with a time of 37:50.
In the boys division Ethan Begay finished third overall in 18:44 to pace the Raiders to a fifth-place team result in Blanding. He came across behind only Edward Lyman of the host Broncos and River Shaw of Grand County.
Elam Etsitty was the next Whitehorse boy to complete the race with a 16th-place run in 19:41. Tyrone Farley got 52nd place with his time of 22:08 and Riley Benallie got 57th with a time of 22:37.
Robryan Tapaha came across in 71st overall for the Raiders in 23:49, Lance Tsinigine was 77th in 24:32, Dillion Leo was 80th in 24:56, Brayden John got 88th in 27:09, and Phoenix Chee was 90th with a time of 28:43. 
The Monument Valley teams also made the short trip north to Blanding this past Wednesday for the John Thornton Invitational.
Sophomore Josiah Gipe led the Cougar boys to an eighth-place finish when he came across the line in 22nd place overall with a time of 19 minutes, 57 seconds. Akecheta Shortman was next for the team in 55th with a time of 22:16.
Riley Stanley was 73rd overall for the Monument Valley boys with his time of 23:56. Josh Hicks got 78th with a 24:34 and Braxton Goodshield finished 82nd in 25:09.
The three Monument Valley girls who competed in the John Thornton Invite all ran together. Shilah Williams led the team, finishing 37th overall with a time of 26:57.
Precious Bedonie was seven seconds behind in 38th place and Taylor Stanley got 40th place with her time of 27:34. The Lady Cougars did not register a team score in Blanding.
Both teams competed in the Lake Powell Invitational in Page, AZ on October 7 but results were unavailable.
Next up for the Raiders and Cougars is the 1A Region 19 Championship hosted by Green River High School on Wednesday, October 18.