Hopi boys, Valley's Betoney overcome cold, mud

If you're one of the boys cross-country teams at the 1A or 2A level hoping to keep Hopi from winning their 20th straight boys state championship this year then take note.

Even the weather and one giant, half frozen, muddy hill can't stop the Bruins.

And if your one of the girls teams hoping to keep Sanders Valley freshman sensation Chelena Betoney from outrunning you, just know none of that stuff stops her either.

In temperatures dipping to 34 degrees at race time and on a course with a steep, slippery hill right in the middle, the Hopi boys and Betoney continued their dominance at the 1A/2A North regionals on Saturday, Oct. 31, in St. Michaels.

The boys race was abuzz with the showdown between Hopi and Many Farms.  While Hopi is always a title contender Many Farms has quietly put together a strong season with many expecting them to challenge Hopi for a team title.

To their credit the Lobos put in an effort which would have won most cross-country meets. If Hopi weren't running in it.

The Bruins placed runners in first, third, fifth, eighth and ninth overall to win the team title paced by senior Kyle Silas' with his first individual win of the season. The Lobos finished as runners-up placing runners in second, fourth, sixth, eleventh and twelfth. They were led by senior Robert Lowe who continues to surprise with a great individual season which he attributes to running the mountain in his hometwon of Lukachukai all summer long.

Sanders Valley and Pinon finished third and fourth, respectively, earning births at the state meet in Phoenix at Cave Creek Golf Course next weekend. The final results were: Hopi (26), Many Farms (35), Sanders Valley (121), Pinon (139), Northland Prep (140), Greyhills (141), St. Michael (145), Rough Rock (180) and Red Mesa.

Head coach Rick Baker, who has seen some of the best cross country teams in the state's history during his 23 years as coach of the Hopi runners, thought his team could have done better.

Noting his team's 9-hour bus ride to a meet in Mount Sac, Calif., the previous weekend where they took first, Baker said, "that meet kind of beat us up a little and we looked a little sluggish today."

The Hopi runners mentioned the meet in California as well. Silas credited that course with helping them at the St. Michael's course because it featured several hills.

The hill on the St. Michael's course was a critical turning point in the boys race. Nearing the hill Lowe and Hopi senior Ronald Laban were neck and neck.

"The hill wasn't a big problem," Lowe said, "when I got to the top I was in first, but that's when a Hopi guy passed me."

That Hopi guy was Silas who said, "My biggest weakness is running up hills, I'm not that great at it, but my strongest part is I just floor it downhill."

Silas passed his Hopi teammate Laban on the hill moving into position to pass Lowe, but it didn't seem to bother Laban who struggled a bit with the cold especially as he approached the hill.

"I was really proud of Kyle," he said, "Kyle saved me. He saved our team.  I saw his long ol' legs running that hill and it encouraged me."

Both Laban and Silas agreed the cold slowed them down, noting that they were both well below their personal best times. They also agreed that next weekend at state when the weather will undoubtedly be warmer they'll be faster.

"Just by looking at what we did here," Silas said, "I'm sure we'll do well at state. It won't be as cold and will be more like what we're used to."

The top 10 finishers for the boys were: Kyle Silas, Hopi (17:27); Robert Lowe, Many Farms (17:32); Ronald Laban, Hopi (17:34); Brian Keesie, Many Farms (17:36); Justin Sekakuku, Hopi (17:41); Garriot James, Many Farms (17:53);  Winston Tsosie, Pinon (18:11); Mcray Huma (18:17); Sidney Brennon (18:21:11); Corey Quigley, Valley (18:21:56).

In the girls race the Northland Prep Spartans of Flagstaff took first place. Hopi took second, Sanders took third and St. Michael took fourth. Each of these teams qualified for state.

The finals results and points: Northland Prep (28), Hopi (47), Sanders Valley (71), St. Michael (127), Pinon (154), Many Farms (155), Rock Point (171), Rough Rock, Greyhills and Cibecue.

The story of the day in the girls race, besides a scoring controversy which delayed the presentation of the championship trophy by over an hour, was Betoney who continued to outrun everyone.

She took first place with a minute and 20 seconds to spare until the second place runner Andrea Klimowski of Northland Prep crossed the finish line.

Northland Prep had never run on the St. Michael's course and had not run any meets on the rez this year. However, coach Mike Elder enjoys the trips out to Navajoland.

"I was just mentioning to someone earlier this morning that I do like coming here," he said. "They always start late, and there's usually a glitch of some kind, but it is definitely more of a family atmosphere than other meets we go to. We're the new kids but we enjoy it."

It was Northland Prep's overall team performance that gave them this year's team title. They placed runners in second fifth, sixth, twelfth and thirteenth.

Although pleased with his team's performance Elder didn't get too giddy about the win.

"Two years ago we ran the regional meet at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff," he said. "That year we took first and Hopi took second. The next weekend at state Hopi took first and we took second. So, this doesn't matter too much."

The top 10 finishers on the girls side were as follows: Chelena Betoney, Valley (20:38); Andrea Klimowski, Northland Prep (21:58); Alvina Gilmore, Hopi (22:46); Chenoa Herrea, St. Michael (22:48), Jessica McMillan, Northland Prep (22:55); Amy Bain, Northland Prep (22:59); Terissa Tosytewa, Hopi (23:09); Shaelanna Antone, Hopi (23:17); Chelsey Gaddy, Valley (23:22); and Roxanne Nez, Rock Point (23:27).

The state finals will be held at Cave Creek Golf Course (15202 N. 19th Ave.) in Phoenix. The boys race is scheduled for 9:55 am and the girls race at 11:10 am.

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