Indigenous Youth Running Camp Provides Insight to Elite Navajo Runners

The Northern Arizona University Center for High Altitude Training in partnership with Nideiltihi Navajo Elite Runners (NNER) will host a running camp for 31 Native American high school runners.

The “Four Corners’ Introductory Altitude Camp” to be held on June 23-25 at Northern Arizona University and will provide top Native American runners an insight on how elite athletes train and a typical Olympic training schedule.


These young athletes will interact with world-renowned running coach, Jack Daniels, and train with some of the nation's top distance runners. We also hope to have present, Navajo elite runners Alvina Begay, Terry Bia, and Craig Curley from Pima Community College Cross Country and Track Team in Tucson, AZ. They will be participating at the camp, which will be a wonderful opportunity for them to serve as role models for the young runners. Alvina advanced to U.S. Olympic Trials in the women's marathon last April. While she did not make the team, this was a tremendous achievement and we commend Alvina for her dedication and inspiration. Terry Bia, an emerging Navajo elite runner, and Craig Curley will be one of five volunteer chaperon's for the running camp.

The student-athletes will be split into six groups according to the six sacred mountains and led by chaperons including board members from Tucson to Connecticut and local Navajo runners, Rachel Novak and Helen Benally. A Nideiltihi Navajo Elite Runners camp wrap-up & closing celebration will be held on Wednesday June 25^th from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at The High Country Conference Center-Fremont Room on the corner of Milton and Butler next to Drury Inn & Suites. Presentations include a motivational cultural presentation by NNER Parents are invited.

The following student-athletes will be attending the 2008 Summer Camp:

First Name	Last Name	Area
Marqia	Begaye	Chinle
Dominick	Bitsui	Chinle
Adrian	Herder	Chinle
Tatiyanah	Johnson	E. Navajo
Vernard	Martinez	E. Navajo
Sammy	Smith	E. Navajo
Marcus	Toya	E. Navajo
Dustin	Walthall	E. Navajo
Monique	Iron Shell	Ft. Defiance
Montana	Nez	Ft. Defiance
Wilburt	Barton	Ft. Defiance
Sam	Sandoval	Ft. Defiance
Chad	Singer	Ft. Defiance
Monte	Yazzie	Ft. Defiance
Kolette	Dayish	N. Navajo
Briana	Ashley-Willie	Shiprock
Myka	Benally	Shiprock
Amanda	Kerr	Shiprock
Evan	Bekes	Shiprock
Kory	Ben	Shiprock
Alyson (Roy)	Thompson	Shiprock
April	Tracy	Tuba City
Gertrude	Tsinnie	Tuba City
Jennifer	Williams	Tuba City
Caitlin	Williams	Tuba City
Dominique	Tsinnie	Tuba City
Lance	Williams	Tuba City
Latrisha	Blackstar	W. Navajo
Kristen	Haskie	W.Navajo
Leanne	Lee	Zuni Tribe
Thomas	Zunie	Zuni Tribe

More information on the Nideiltihi Navajo Elite Runners can be found here.

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