Improved Warrior cross country squad takes sixth at Doug Conley Invite

The Warriors’ Lance Nez was a difference-maker for Tuba City.

The Warriors’ Lance Nez was a difference-maker for Tuba City.

TEMPE-The Tuba City Warriors placed sixth at the elite Doug Conley Invitational, widely considered the most competitive high school cross country meet in Arizona. More than 90 percent of Arizona's 200-plus cross country squads have to stay home for this meet, which invites only the top-20 ranked teams in the state.

With the Arizona State Championship meet divided into six divisions based on school size, this in the one meet of the year where the best of the best in Arizona, regardless of school size, can truly measure themselves against one another. One of only three small schools invited to compete, the Warriors beat several higher ranked large-schools.

Ranked eighth in the state going into the Conley meet, the Warriors still managed to surprise many with their sixth place finish. After graduating their dynamic duo of Chris Holve (2006 Arizona 3A State Cross Country Champion) and Rick Worker (2007 Arizona 3A State 3,200-meter Champion), few expected much from the team before the season began.

Tuba City did not receive a single vote on the preseason statewide cross country polls. At the time, it appeared that the Warriors would spend its season chasing 3A North rivals Ganado and Chinle. However, after three weeks of intense early season training, the Warriors started off the season with two quick wins at the Hopi and Peaks invitationals. Since then, the team has continued to improve.

Fully half the runners on the team are new faces, but strong leadership from key individuals has helped the team gel quickly. It is not easy to train everyday in the hot Arizona sun, but veterans on the team, including senior co-captains Lance Williams and Kellen Bennett, have set a positive tone that combines hard work with a fun atmosphere. That ethic has paid off for the veteran runners, as well as the young and newfound talent on the team.

With his ninth place finish at the Conley meet, Williams proved that he is among the best male high school runners in Arizona. Williams battled among the leaders from the starting gun to finish the five kilometer (3.1 mile) course in 16:20, the fastest of all small school runners. If you think you can keep up with him, that's between 11 and 12 miles an hour for more than three miles up and down hills in the Phoenix heat.

Sophomore, and cross country newcomer, Ryan Yazzie was next for the Warriors, running 17:02 to place 44th. Although new to cross country, Yazzie is not unfamiliar with running fast. Last spring Yazzie was among the fastest freshmen milers in the state, and anchored Tuba City's 4-by-800 meter relay team to a state title. Tuba City's third man was freshman Billy Orman running 17:09 in 54th place. Only a freshman, Orman is familiar with success following his Junior High State Championship titles in cross country and the 1,600-meter run in track.

Co-captain Kellen Bennett was next, placing 67th with a time of 17:16. Bennett has dramatically improved his already impressive times from a year ago, and as a two-team captain (he also captains the basketball team) and member of the National Honor Society, Bennett adds more than just leg speed to this team.

The difference maker for the Warriors at the Conley meet was senior Lance Nez, another National Honor Society member who is perhaps better known as one of Arizona's standout wrestlers. Although he has consistently been the fifth scoring member for Tuba City, Nez improved by nearly 45 seconds to take 94th in 17:32. In a meet as intensely competitive as this, a difference of 45 seconds translates into more than 40 points for the team.

Junior Mitchell Bahnimptewa was next, running 18:02 in 121st place. Bahnimptewa is also running cross country for the first time, but has quickly shown that he does not lack talent. Bahnimptewa won the open race at the Hopi Invitational, his first ever high school cross country race. His coach suggested he retire undefeated following that race, but is glad that he chose to continue.

Another youngster, sophomore Herschel Lester finished just two seconds later in 18:04 for 124th place. As the lone freshman on the Warriors 2006 varsity squad, Lester is actually one of the more experienced Warrior runners.

With five weeks to go, the Warriors are now Arizona's top-ranked cross country team in the 3A Division, but many challenges lie ahead. Perennial 3A powerhouses Chinle and Ganado are returning many of the runners that made them the fourth and sixth ranked teams in Arizona in 2006-a ranking that included all divisions from 1A to 5A schools. And this year, no one can overlook Window Rock, which surprisingly began the 2007 season with one of the tightest packs of runners in the state.

These teams will meet often in the final few weeks of the season, including the Bud Davis Invitational in Tuba City Oct. 12. Mingus Union High School in Cottonwood, the top-ranked team overall in Arizona, is expected to attend the Bud Davis meet. With many if not all of the 3A North teams expected to attend, the meet might also turn out to be a dress rehearsal for the 3A North Region Meet Oct. 27, which will be held on the same course.

As coach of the Tuba City Warriors cross country team, Perry proudly states his home team bias.

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