For the second straight week, the Ganado boys and girls cross country teams turned in a solid performance, en route to the championship at the Canyon de Chelly Invite in Chinle this past Saturday.

Ganado's boy's and girl's teams swept top honors at the Window Rock Fighting Scouts Cross Country Invite in Fort Defiance on September 6.

Ganado's boy's squad chalked up an impressive 42 points as the Hornets placed four runners in the top 10 and its fifth runner crossed the finish line in 12th place at the Chinle meet.

Kayenta Monument Valley and Tuba City tied for boy's second place with 112 points. The Mustangs were awarded second place as its sixth runner finished 46th place. Tuba City's sixth runner claimed 55th place.

The Lady Hornets netted 47 points, outpointing runner-up Coconino, who scored 62 points, to garner the girl's team title at Chinle. Ganado placed three runners in the top 10 positions. The Lady Hornets' final two scoring runners finished 13th and 20th.

First-year Ganado boy's and girl's head coach Leandra Thomas said the student-athletes are learning long term life essentials and team building is number one, including treating teammates and everyone with respect, no matter who they are.

"We as coaches are very proud of our runners," Thomas, a former college distance runner, said. "We have much more building to do every week .... keepting our team inspired and motivated is keeping us excited and eager to continue working towards being better runners and overall better student-athletes."

BOY'S VARSITY

In an outstanding finish, Tuba City senior Demetrius Daw won the boy's individual title. Daw was clocked in 17:54. Runner-up Daniel Biakeddy, a Pinon sophomore, trailed by three seconds, posting a 17:57.

Daw led the race, when Biakeddy's kick made the race interesting. Daw turned in a fantastic kick to post a three-second victory.

Senior ReShaun Curley was Ganado's top finisher, claiming third place. clocking an 18:08. Curley's Hornet teammate freshman Alfred Reid III garnered eighth place, with an 18:24 showing. Ganado junior Marquez Smith followed in ninth place, touring the 5K course in 18:32. Hornet freshman Cary Curley rounded out the top 10 finishers with a 19:33.

Ganado's fifth scoring runner was junior Chance Yazzie. Yazzie was timed in 18:44.

Monument Valley's top finisher was senior William Wayne, who copped fourth place, turning in an 18:12. Sophomore Cayden Smith crossed the finish line in sixth place, negotiating the course in 18:18.

Junior Colwyn Nelson was Monument Valley's finisher, claiming 29th place, with a 19:45. Other Monument Valley scoring runners were Isaiah Whitehorse (31st, 20:22) and Leithan Stanley (42nd, 20:22). The Mustangs' tie-breaking sixth runner was Dominick Todacheene (46th, 20:27).

Kayenta Monument Valley boy's head coach Herbert Beyale III said the Mustangs ran well from top to bottom.

"Our varsity boys finished second place, plus our Junior Varsity boys finished third place," Beyale said. "That was an entire team effort. Not to mention our sixth runner, freshman Dominick Todacheene, breaking the tie with Tuba City, It was a great experience that really shows how every runner plays a role in a cross country team. Good lessons early in the season that will hopefully lead to a more competitive team down the season."

Kirtland Cental, New Mexico sophomore Matthew Hawkins settled for fifth place, with an 18:16 showing.

Winslow junior Noral Cooper crossed the finish line in seventh place, clocking an 18:19. Tuba City's Daw garnered first place honors. Tuba City's Alisseo Honahni finished 17th place, with a 19:06 showing. Nalzheehe Merino was clocked in 19:17 for 21st place.

Other Tuba City scoring runners included Taryn Tsosie (35th, 20:13.45) and Loren Dallas (38th, 20:17). Tuba City's Joseph Buck finished 55th place, with a 20:55. Buck was the tie breaking, sixth finisher for Tuba City.

Boy's scores were Ganado (42), Kayenta Monument Valley (112, sixth runner 46th place earned them second place), Tuba City 112, sixth runner finishe 55th place), Chinle (124), Kirtland Central, New Mexico (125), Winslow (140), Pinon (154), Many Farms (172), Coconino (174), Holbrook (207), Greyhills Academy (289), and Rock Point (351).

GIRL'S VARSITY

Kirtland Central, New Mexico sophomore Aisha Ramone captured first place in the girl's varsity race. Ramone toured the 5K course in 20:56.

Chinle freshman Temrya Bia was runner-up, touring the terrain in 21:16. Bia's teammate sophomore Nevaeh Scott garnered fifth place with a 21:34 showing.

Ganado senior Jayla McIntosh was the Lady Hornets' top finisher. McIntosh finished third place overall, turning in a 21:19. Ganado sophomore Whitney James followed in fourth place, posting a 21:28. The Lady Hornets third finisher was freshman Marissa Shorty, who claimed 10th place with a 22:04 time.

Ganado freshman LaSundra Baldwin (13th, 22:18) and junior Kayla Beck (20th, 23:33) were the Lady Hornets' final two scoring runners.

Coconino placed two runners in the top eight. Freshman Wheaten Scott was clocked in 21:38 for sixth place and senior Kaelynn Ashley was eighth, posting a 21:50. Coconino's other finishers included, sophomore Claire Walker (17th, 23:20.3), junior Macy Smith (18th, 23:20.88), and freshman Zoe Sather (19th, 23:21).

Kirtland Central, New Mexico junior Autumn Harrison finished seventh place with a 21:39.

Tuba City junior Shaelyn Honahni was ninth place, clocking a 21:55.

Girl's team scores were: Ganado (47), Coconino (62), Kirtland Central, New Mexico (68), Chinle (79), Tuba City (97), Many Farms (162), and Kayenta Monument Valley (177).