Native American athletes excited about move to San Diego for this year’s meet, looking to add to program’s successful tradition in junior races

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The Wings of America cross country team will be vying Saturday for the program’s 32nd national title at the USATF Cross Country Championships at Mission Bay Park in San Diego.

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While the success of the program is staggering, Wings Executive Director Dustin Martin is focused on the bigger picture, and wants more for his team from this event.

With a change in venue, from last year’s event in Tallahassee, Fla., to California this year, that just might provide Wings with a new and much-needed challenge.

“First and foremost, I hope it provides better competition,” Martin said of the new venue. “We’ve been very disappointed in the last four years of the competition that USATF has attracted with the cross country meet. But like I said, we are really hopeful that the competition is more intense and that those (runners) really get the opportunity to test their skills alongside a deep field.”

Started in 1988, Wings has helped provide American Indian youth opportunities to represent their native communities through running. Selected in the late fall through any Nike Cross Regional or Foot Locker Regional race, eight male and female runners (seven runners, one alternate) are chosen to represent Wings at the junior level at the USATF Cross Country Championships.

During the holiday break, the team formerly gets to know one another through a multi-day training camp in Albuquerque, N.M.

Martin mentioned this year, they were able to attract individuals from outside the Southwest region, including Oklahoma, North Dakota and Wyoming. A total of 62 student-athletes representing 19 Native American Tribes registered to be considered for selection.

“At the top end is very, very stacked, on both sides, both men and women, but then toward the end, there’s some younger runners in our fifth, sixth and seventh spots that maybe didn’t expect to make the team when they tried out, but it was one of those years where a couple of people turned down their spot, or they just didn’t try out for the team,” Martin said. “And so I’m really excited. I see it as a year of opportunity for talented native runners to get some experience, and I can’t wait to unleash at sea level in San Diego.”

The boys team is led by a trio of returners from New Mexico – Galvin Curley of Navajo Pine who won the 2A state title last November, Triston Charles of Piedra Vista who finished second in the 5A state meet, and DeShawn Goodwin of Zuni, who claimed the 3A state title.

Curley placed 43rd, Goodwin took 47th and Charles placed 51st last year in the 8-kilometer race.

On the girls side, the team will be without senior and veteran Wings member Ali Upshaw of St. Michaels Indian, Ariz., who slipped last week while running and won’t be making the trip. Martin said despite the youth of the team, he’s confident with the group that has been assembled, guided by returners Jasmine Turtle-Morales of Eldorado, N.M., and University of Antelope Valley freshman Tiajhae Nez.

Turtle-Morales placed 20th and Nez was 31st last year in the 6-kilometer event.

“For a number of those girls, they are young, however, I don’t think that’s a problem with the leadership of Jasmine and Tiajhae up front,” Martin said. “I see them finishing very well rounded. I think the girls behind them are going to rally and hopefully surprise themselves with how they can run.”

Come Saturday, Wings, as always, is ready to compete and hopeful for the best race possible.

“We go in there and are ready to race and train for an elite level race,” Martin said. “I hope to see things turn here.”