CHINLE — The Wildcats of Chinle High School may have finished third overall at the Division III State Girls Cross-Country Championships a season ago, but they were one of only three squads within a 42-team field to have two runners place Top 10 individually.

For the Wildcats, those two runners happened to be sisters.

Temyra Bia’s junior season ended with a fourth overall finish at the Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix with a 19:53.1 time.

Her sister, Tumayah, just a freshman at the time, took eighth overall with a 20:18.9.

The other teams to have two runners place in the Top 10? Snowflake High School, and eventual state champion Coconino High School.

Now a year older, the Bia sisters are focused more than ever, a fact that could lead Chinle atop the team podium come November.

Of course, the family affair for Wildcats cross-country doesn’t stop with the Bia sisters. Their uncle, Bryan Begay, is Chinle’s head coach. He’s been teaching his two nieces the art of running since they could walk.

“I used to coach middle school here, for so many years. They ran for me there, too. They became interested because I told them when I was younger, I used to run,” Begay said.

Temyra remembers the early-morning hours as a younger child being pushed by not only her uncle, but her grandma.

“I remember every morning my grandma would be yelling at us, telling us to get up and run before the sun comes up,” Temyra said. “I’ve always wondered why we had to wake up so early just to run, but now I know, and I thank everyone in my family, especially my uncle and mom.”

Her mother was a marathon runner in her younger days, and coached in college.

With that family pedigree already in place, Begay says pushing them can be easier than other athletes.

“They are very coachable, they listen to what I say. I don’t try to give them special treatment,” Begay said. “They are my runners on the course, but my nieces at home.”

Begay lives next store to the girls.

“I pretty much helped raise them,” Begay said.

Temrya, now a senior, believes she can not only equal her success from 2021, but surpass it this fall.

“I strongly believe that I have the mindset and competitiveness to overcome the seniors that I competed with last year,” Temrya said.

Those seniors include Kylie Wild, who won state as a junior with Salpointe Catholic High School and an 18:41 time, while Evelynne Carr (ALA Queen Creek) took second with an 18:55. Taking third was Wheaten Smith for Coconino at 19:39.4.

“I’ve put in lots of work and dedication to finishing in the Top 3 and eventually trying to place first for state,” Temrya said. “I believe that with all the practices and commitment that I do for myself and my teammates, I believe I can overcome what’s coming for state and other races.”

Temrya isn’t the only talented runner in the Bia family. Her younger sister, Tumayah, seems to have a knack for winning as well.

“Tumayah was undefeated from third grade to seventh grade,” Begay said.

Now a sophomore, Tumayah is starting to take running more seriously.

“I am going to push myself harder at races and practices,” Tumayah said, adding that she’s aiming for a Top 5 finish individually come November.

Tumayah said her inspiration comes from her older sister, Temrya.

“She pushes me to work harder. It feels like she motivates me and pushes me to keep trying even though it’s hard,” Tumayah said.

Being mentally and physically strong is a large part of Temrya’s focus during a cross-country run, Tumayah said, and she “looks up to her” for that.

“She just has her mind set on running and I want to be like her,” Tumayah said. “Having her around makes me feel better about myself as a person and a runner. It’s like therapy. Running is hard, but it helps me with my mental health. She is my mentor, and she’s so good at what she does, she never lets anyone down and can lift up someone’s day.”

Despite being the older sibling, Temrya feels the same way about her younger sister.

“It’s heartwarming and fun to have my sister Tumayah on the team with me. It gives me motivation to do better as an older sister and be a role model for her,” Temrya said. “I am so proud of her from last year’s state meet coming in Top 10 as a freshman.”

With the Bia sisters feeding off each other’s confidence and support system, the sky is the limit for Chinle cross-country.

The Wildcats and the Bia sisters open the 2022 season at The Peaks Cross-Country Invitational at Buffalo Park on Sept. 3.

For more on northern Arizona cross-country, visit AzPreps365.com.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.