Two Raiders finish in top ten at state XC meet

by David Boyle
News Director
Whitehorse runners earned two top-ten medals and competitive team finishes at the 1A Utah State Cross Country Championships on October 29 at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City.
Sophomore Keiarra Martin led the Lady Raiders with a fourth-place performance, finishing with a time of 20:02.
Freshman Laylah Benally, senior Heidi Clark, and senior Lamyia Benally finished 18th, 24th and 30th. Underclassmen Maria Yellowman, Hannah Clark, and Brandilyn John also ran at the state meet.
Junior Ethan Begay led the boys team, finishing in sixth place overall with a time of 17:59. In a highly competitive 1A race junior teammate and Region 19 champion Elam Etsitty finished 22nd in 18:31.
Freshman Hyatt Thomas and junior Lance Tsinigine rounded out Raider scorers finishing in 40th and 64th respectively. Also running at the state meet were juniors Jayden John, Riley Benallie, and Brayden John.
As a team the Whitehorse girls finished in sixth place and the boys took seventh. Reflecting on the state meet Keiarra Martin said she was challenged at the Sugar House Park course.
“It was challenging with the up and down hills and grass. It’s something to work on in the offseason. The weather was pretty tough. I was cold, I was frozen and my muscles got tight. I didn’t perform how I normally run.”
Teammate Ethan Begay said he too was challenged at the state course. “Running on grass rather than dirt, plus the weather was cold with wind and rain. Despite all that I motivated myself to just run my race.”
Begay said he was very happy to be in the top 10 at state again, finishing in sixth place two years in a row.
Martin said this year she learned about her strengths and weaknesses, saying that hills, grass and temperature changes were weaknesses but her mentality was her greatest strength.
“Knowing that I can push through and I noticed at state I tried to push through and I got top five.”
After finishing as runner-up last year Martin said she’s not satisfied with this year’s result and that she’ll be back for her final two years.
“I’m not done trying to win that state title for my community and set a good example for the runners in my community. Winning state as a Native American would be something knowing I come from a small 1A school.”
Both runners had praise for their teammates and the effort they put forth, with Begay noting his teammates all improved their personal records this year. The teammates also offered thanks for their supporters including their coaches.
Begay also gave a shoutout to his Chei (Grandpa) Harrison Johnson for being a great bus driver