Tradition lives on at the Zuni Fitness Series

<i>Anton Wero/NHO</i><br>
Tammie Delena of Zuni, N.M. was the overall female division winner of 27th Annual Zuni Fitness Series held over the weekend in Zuni, N.M. Delena finished in 21 minutes and 30 seconds.

<i>Anton Wero/NHO</i><br> Tammie Delena of Zuni, N.M. was the overall female division winner of 27th Annual Zuni Fitness Series held over the weekend in Zuni, N.M. Delena finished in 21 minutes and 30 seconds.

ZUNI, N.M. - "Get up and meet the new day. Go and run, to be healthy and strong in coming days," our elders said in the wee morning hours before daybreak.

"Our grandparents spoke of stick races from village to village. Running is a part of that tradition that is passed on from generation to generation in most Indian communities and it lives on here in Zuni," said Derrick Waatsa, program manager for the Zuni Wellness Center. Waatsa, with staff and volunteers coordinate the Annual Zuni Fitness Series, which is now celebrating it's 27th season. "Our motto is to outrun diabetes, within our tribe here and the nations as a whole, especially among the Native American populations, hopefully we keep the people aware of diabetes and keep the numbers from rising," Waatsa added.

"The Zuni Wellness Center in the past five years has added aerobics and spinning with 35 bikes, to the traditional running events," Waatsa continued. "Our numbers at the events are steadily increasing."

The next event of the 2009 Zuni Fitness Series is scheduled for Sept. 27, which will include a youth competitive run, the famed Coronado's Curse 5K Run, a fitness walk and conclude with a senior and open aerobics. There is no fee and all participants will receive a T-shirt.

The monthly event included a 5K run, a 15-mile reservation relay run, a one-mile and two-mile youth run and a fitness walk.

"It was a beautiful morning for a race here in Zuni. The course was great with hills and sandy terrain. It was very well put together by the fitness series coordinators," said the overall 5K male winner, Timothy Eisenga of Zuni. Eisenga finished with a time of 17:36. In second place was Kevin Gia (19:28) of Zuni and Armanda Sandoval (20:52) finished in third place.

Tammie Delena was the Female Division winner of the 5K with a time of 21 minutes and 30 seconds. She was followed by Kimberly Chapman (21:53) of Zuni and Kristin Fairey (23:18) all of Zuni.

Team Running Brave won the overall 15-mile reservation relay run, with a time of one hour 33 minutes and 47 seconds. Their lead runner was Albert Chipto. Orlando Nastacio ran the second leg with Brannon Wallace anchoring the team.

The Thunder Runners (1:40:03) with team members Michael Curley, Bernard Lasiloo and Scott Peina won the All Male Team winners of the relay run. Coming in second place was Team Three for Fun (1:41:38) consisting of Alfred Murphy, Lemont Yazzie and Ray Joe.  The third place finishers were The Eagles with Steve Boone, Jonathan Lazio and Ian Lasiloo.

For the females, The Three G's team with Brenda O. Quam, Lenore Tsattie and Kelly Chapman, won the All Female Team Division of the relay run with a time of two hours four minutes and one second.

The Runners and One (Chad Meekhof, Jesi Hale, Andy Yazzie) won the Open Co-Ed Division of the relay run with a time of one hour and 36 minutes and 57 seconds. The Zuni Indian Health Service team (John Bettler, John Miller, Tani Tsethlikai) won the Indian Health Service Co-Ed Division in one hour and 54 minutes and 35 seconds.

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