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- Five members of the NB3FIT XC team travel to Paris, Kentucky to compete in the USATF National Junior Olympic Championship.
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- Families gathered for a spaghetti dinner the night before the big race.
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- NB3FIT youth and coaches spend some time together before nationals.
After missing a whole season in 2020, it was hard to imagine NB3FIT Cross Country having the comeback season that it did. NB3FIT Cross Country officially ended two weeks ago at a very wet and muddy course in Paris, Kentucky for the USATF National Junior Olympic Championship.
NB3FIT cross country runners: Desinayah Pacheco (Santo Domingo Pueblo), Gionni Quiver (San Felipe Pueblo), Alasia Kee (San Felipe Pueblo), Savannah Sangre (San Felipe Pueblo) and Marcus Tenorio (San Felipe Pueblo) proudly represented their teammates, families and communities at the 2021 national’s race. None of the runners finished in the top 10, but that was the furthest thing from their minds following the race.
“My favorite part of nationals was all the confidence I had and all the people supporting me back at home,” Kee said.
“My favorite part about the race was I was able to run against the best,” Tenorio said.
“My favorite part was hanging out with my friends,” Quiver said.Winning is great, but what these runners got out of attending nationals is an unforgettable learning experience that will help them in the future, Clint Begay Director of NB3FIT said.
“All our runners have been through so much these past two years. It has been awesome to see them together again this year having fun being active together and seeing them with their families and healthy,” said Begay.
NB3FIT XC started off this rebuilding season with 18 youth runners, small compared to years past. However, as the season started going and others heard and seen what the team was doing the team grew to a total of 32 Native youth runners. Which is a big win, considering NB3FIT wasn’t able to go into local tribal communities due the pandemic.
“This year was very different. It definitely had its pros and cons hosting practice at one location, but we hope to be back in communities in 2022,” Begay said.
Looking ahead to 2022, NB3FIT will celebrate what worked and take time to reflect on what can be improved on for next season.
“Overall, this season was amazing, it was great to get back with our fellow local running groups and see all the youth come together to compete,” Begay said. “We look forward to collaborating more the local running community in the upcoming season.”
USATF National Junior Olympic Championship results for NB3FIT XC
(9-10) Girls 3K
Desinayah Pacheco -14:36.65
11-12 Boys 3K
Marcus Tenorio – 13:33.04
11-12 Girls 3K
Gionni Quiver – 5:49.61
Alasia Kee – 17:17.99
Savannah Sangre – 15:32.51
