Whitehorse, Monument Valley cross country teams run in annual Shiprock Chieftain Invite

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The Monument Valley and Whitehorse high school cross country teams traveled to Shiprock this past Saturday, September 16 to compete in the 2023 Chieftain Invitational.
The Raider boys were 15th as a team and the girls were 14th. Monument Valley did not qualify for team scores with just three boys and three girls competing.
Whitehorse freshman Keiarra Martin continues to impress. She won the girls race, 23 seconds ahead of the second-place runner with a time of 20:00.
Besides Martin, the Lady Raiders had several additional solid performances on the weekend. Lamyia Benally was 49th overall with a time of 24:15. Heidi Clark came home 78th in 25:51.
Hannah Clark crossed the line in 85th with a time of 26:30. Harmony Thomas was 90th among the girls in 26:47. Shantel Begay took 107th with a 29:25. And Meagan Morgan rounded out the Raider runners in 116th with a time of 32:19.
For the Whitehorse boys Ethan Begay led the way in 30th with a time of 18:46. Elam Etsitty was 79th overall in 20:51.
Tyrone Farley, Lance Tsinigine, and Riley Benallie came across the line only 28 seconds apart. Farley was 94th in 22:11, Tsinigine was 96th in 22:24, and Benallie was 97th in 22:39.
Brayden John and Robryan Tapaha were 110th and 111th overall with times of 25:49 and 26:06 respectively, rounding out the Whitehorse boys team.
For the Monument Valley boys Josiah Gipe was the top runner, finishing 40th overall with a time of 19:24. Akacheta Shortman completed the course in 21:56 for 88th place. And Riley Stanley was 113th in 26:55.
Precious Bedonie led the Lady Cougars in 87th place among the girls with her time of 26:39. Taylor Stanley crossed the line 91st just ten seconds behind. And Yonabah Smith rounded out the Monument Valley runners in 115th with a time of 31:40.
Monument Valley is taking this week off, but Whitehorse is right back at it when they head to Newcomb, NM for the Skyhawk Invitational on Saturday, September 23.

The 2023 Whitehorse High School cross country team has performed well so far. Freshman Keirra Martin has been absolutely dominant for the girls, winning all three of her races. In the Loyds Lake Classic in Monticello Sep 1, the Raider girls finished 3rd with the boys earning 7th. At the Miyamura Invite in Gallup on Sep 9 the boys came home 5th and the girls got 6th. At the Stewart Foster Invitational in Huntington Sep 11 the girls finished 3rd with the boys 4th. In their most recent meet, the Shiprock Chieftain Invitational on Sep 16, the girls earned 14th place with the boys 15th. The Raiders are heading to Newcomb this Saturday, Sep 23. Members of the team include: (top row, left to right) Tyrone Farely, Robryan Tapaha, Ethan Begay, Lance Tsinigine, Riley Benallie, Brayden John, Elam Etsitty. Bottom: Meagan Morgan, Heidi Clark, Shantel Begay, Lamyia Benally, Hannah Clark, Keirra Martin, and Harmony Thomas. Carolene Johnson photo