Tuba City boys are repeat champs at Hopi Invitational

Reggie Pohleahla (left) and Mitchell Bahnimptewa sprint for the finish.

Reggie Pohleahla (left) and Mitchell Bahnimptewa sprint for the finish.

KEAMS CANYON, Ariz. - More than two dozen teams officially kicked off the fall cross country season at the Hopi Invitational on Sept. 2. As Arizona's first high school cross country meet, this annual event marks the beginning of the fall racing season. For the second straight season the Tuba City Warriors boys cross country team came away victorious, but the evenly matched event seemed to signal an extremely competitive 2008 season ahead.

Tuba City's 30-point margin of victory over Page was decisive, but the Warriors winning total of 90 points was unusually high for the winning score in a sport where the low score wins. The next three teams were separated by just six points with runner-up Page scoring 120 points, Hopi in third place with 122 points, and Window Rock in fourth place with 126 points. Just seven points back was Many Farms in fifth place with 133 points.

The highlight for the Warriors was the 1-2 finish of co-captains, junior Ryan Yazzie (17:09) and sophomore Billy Orman (17:24). Finishing third was the 2007 3A State Championship Meet runner-up Cody Wells of Snowflake (17:26). Tuba City's third man was sophomore Dennis Klain (18:42) who ran an outstanding second half to finish 16th overall. The surprise of the day came from senior Reggie Poleahla, Tuba City's fourth finisher. Running in the first high school cross country race of his life, Poleahla (19:14) placed 35th overall, just one second ahead of teammate Mitchell Bahnimptewa (19:15) in 36th. Following closely behind was junior co-captain Herschel Lester (19:27) in 42nd. Junior Alex Goldtooth (20:59), who has so far shown the greatest improvement of any member of the Tuba City team, finished 70th out of the more 100 varsity runners.

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