Tuba City's Orman, Yazzie run in tandem

TUBA CITY, Nov. 6, 2008

B illy Orman and Ryan Yazzie had one of the most important conversations they've had all season.

It happened as they struggled through the soft sand in a wash in Tuba City, then again as they glided over T.C. hill and finally as they approached the finish line.

"It'll be over soon," Orman said he told his teammate Yazzie, as they ran neck and neck.

For the Tuba City Warriors Orman is the team's No. 2 runner and Yazzie is the No. 1 runner.

On Saturday they proved to be No.1 and No.2 on another level, at the 3A North Regional Cross Country Championships, as Orman came in second and Yazzie first.

Orman finished with a time of 18:06.58, just behind Yazzie's time of 18:01.99.

"It's really exciting to have someone that runs with me who knows how to push me," Yazzie said of his teammate. "It's like me and him work together."

Their effort and the teamwork of the rest of the Warriors resulted in the team winning the 3A North Region championship title. The win puts both Yazzie and Orman in a pool of the top 15 runners who also qualified for the state meet.

Window Rock's Monte Yazzie took third with a time of 18:48.19. Tuba City's Reggie Poleahla (19:05.04) and Mitchell Bahnimptewa (19:08.73) came in third and fourth to complete the top 5.

Orman said the competition is not so much with the two teammates but with other teams.

"We usually run neck and neck all the way - he just has a better kick (finish)," Orman said. "We kind of know both of us are the same level."

Tuba City head coach Carl Perry said the two compliment each other instead of competing against one another.

"It's a rivalry in which both would like to be the best, but there's no animosity," Perry said. "They extenuate each other's strengths. Neither of them would be as good without the other."

Perry said he knew the chances for his team to win were high and the outcome was better than he hoped for.

"Four of my runners placed in the top five," Perry said. "They all race as a team, winning as a team is most important."

But Tuba City wasn't the only team who played their parts.

Window Rock's Monte Yazzie came in third in 18:48.19 and Matthew Williams came in sixth with a time of 19:08.73.

Window Rock head coach Steve Fabina said much responsibility was given to both Monte Yazzie and Williams.

"I told them before race Monte and Matthew will have to be in the top 5," Fabina said. "And they did their part. The next three guys they did their jobs, too."

As a team Window Rock placed third with 88 points. Tuba City placed first with 25 points, Chinle was second with 56 points and Ganado was fourth with 86 points.

The top four teams qualified for the state cross-country meet at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix on Saturday morning.

As a team last year the Scouts fell short to a state championship appearance by 14 points and only one runner ran as an individual.

But this year Monte Yazzie will make his second appearance and Williams will make his first.

"It feels very good. It's exciting," Monte Yazzie said. "I ran the greatest time this whole season. I just felt strong and didn't give up."

Neither did Williams, who last year, placed 21st in the regional meet.

Williams said he made his entire season about making it to state.

"Last year I didn't go, I really wanted to," William's said. "(Today) I just wanted to run hard, do my best and be a leader for the team. It feels good."

With competitive teams like Chinle, Window Rock and Ganado, Perry said his team's position going into state is bittersweet.

"We're the highest ranked team in 3A. It's a nice position to be in but makes me nervous at the same time," Perry said. "We're not locked. All the teams that qualified are quality teams."

But no matter the competition, Ryan Yazzie and Billy Orman said what's important is to keep the conversation going for all 3.1 miles.

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