A pair of freshmen distance runners dominated the girl's and boy's individual championship at the 3A North Regional cross country meet.

Chinle's Temyra Bia captured the girl's title and Ganado's Micah Slivers took home the boy's coveted crown.

Bia completed the 5K course in 19:27, easily winning the race. Bia was well ahead of runner-up, Kayenta Monument Valley freshman Deleanna Yellowman, who posted a 20:00.

Bia said she felt comfortable throughout the race. Bia captured her fourth first place this season.

"I felt good," Bia said. "It's great to finish first place. There are many good runners. The course was challenging. The course was sandy in some parts and there was an incline on the course. About midway through the race, I pulled away from the field."

Slivers negotiated the 5K terrain in 16:16. Page senior Skyler Sandoval crossed the finish line with a 16:39 time for second place.

Slivers said he ran a good race against a talented field of runners.

"I was ready to race and I was motivated," Slivers said. "This is the second time I've raced her on the Window Rock course. My time was faster than the first time I raced here. This time there was a Window Rock runner that I paced. By pacing the Window Rock, I ran faster. Toward the end of the race, I pulled away from him and two other runners. I wasn't tired. I felt good when I crossed the finish line."

Girl's team champion, Ganado Lady Hornets, finished with 30 points. The Lady Hornets placed its five scoring runners in the top eight. In fact, Ganado's sixth non-scoring runner finished ninth place.

Ganado head coach Leandra Thomas said preparing for the Lady Hornets' last few meets has been a season long team effort.

"Our team's training and efforts are surfacing and our coaching staff are super proud of our girls and boys," Thomas said. "Two more weeks and we are excited to compete at sectionals and at the state meet. Thank you to our team support at Ganado Unified School District and the parents."

Ganado runners swept fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and non-scoring ninth places.

Freshman Marissa Shorty was Ganado's lead finisher. While crossing the finish line in fourth place, Shorty was clocked in 20:04. Sophomore Whitney James crossed the finish line in fifth place with a 20:08 showing. Freshman Lasundrai Baldwin claimed sixth place, posting a 20:12.

Senior Jayla McIntosh garnered seventh place, clocking a 20:43. Sophomore Marissa Smith followed in eight place with a 21:03.4 time.

Senior Shaunda Yazzie, who was non-scoring, completed the race in 21:03.7. Junior Kayla Beck, also non-scoring, was timed in 21:57 for 15th place.

Other female runners finishing in the top 10 are Tuba City junior Shaelyn Honahni (3rd, 20:03) and her Lady Warriors' teammate senior Rochelle Jackson (10th, 21:06).

Tuba City finished second place in the girl's team scoring with 57 points. Chinle claimed third place with 90 points, followed by Window Rock 96, Kayenta Monument Valley 113 and Page 152.

In the boy's division, Kayenta Monument Valley garnered the team championship with 62 points.

Kayenta Monument Valley head coach Herb Beyale III said his team turned in a great performance.

"We came in with a race strategy and the boys executed it perfectly," Beyale said. "The result of the race is a nice reward for their efforts. All seven of our varsity runners did amazing. Our team is getting the right mentality. team work, heading into the sectional race."

Senior William Wayne was Kayenta Monument Valley's lone runner finishing in the top 10. Wayne crossed the finish line in fifth place, touring the 5K course in 16:58.

Other Kayenta Monument Valley scoring runners were senior Autry Lomahongva (11th, 17:43), senior Ian Salt (12th, 17:43), senior Isaiah Whitehorse (16th, 18:01) and junior Colwyn Nelson (18th, 18:08).

Page senior Skyler Sandoval crossed the finish line in 16:39 for second place. His teammate. freshman Orlando Yazzie garnered eighth place, posting a 17:14.

Other top 10 finishers included, Tuba City senior Demetrius Daw (3rd, 16:42), Window Rock junior Burlander Kee (4th, 16:47), Chinle junior Ashriel Pouncy (6th, 17:10.2), Ganado junior Chance Yazzie (7th, 17:10.6), Ganado freshman Cauy Curley (9th, 17:16) and Chinle sophomore Tristan James (10th, 17:30).

In the boy's team scores, Chinle finished runner-up with 68 points, followed by Page 75, Ganado 85, Tuba City 88 and Window Rock 118.

The cross country season contnues at the Division III and Division IV Sectional Meet this Friday at Hidden Cove Golf Course in Holbrook.