Native American 5K Champions

Native American 5K National Championships crowns ten National Champions.

Albuquerque, New Mexico: Competing in five age divisions, ten individuals have been crowned national champions at the second annual Native American 5K National Championships hosted by the Native American Sports Council. Age division consisted of male and female children; 5th grade and under, Youth; Grades 6th-8th, Young Adults; grades 9th – 12th, Open, out of high school, and Masters, age 40 and over. The race proved to be a great success as over 25 tribes were represented and the total participants doubled from last year’s inaugural event.

The overall male and female finishers were Brandon Leslie, Navajo, and Kelly McCabe, Navajo.

Male division national champions: Children: Victor Daney; Choctaw/Assinboine Sioux; 34:38; Youth: Kelvin Aspoas; Navajo; 21:18; Young Adult: Jonas Ruybalid, Jemez Pueblo; 16:20; Open: Brandon Leslie, Navajo; 15:58; Masters: Gary Toya, Jemez Pueblo; 20:13.

Female division national champions: Children: Morgan Davanport; Acoma Pueblo; 23:51; Youth: Miranda Daney; Choctaw/Assinboine Sioux, 29:55; Young Adults: Jasmine Chimoni; Zuni Pueblo; 25:47; Open: Kelly McCabe; Navajo, 20:04; Masters: Lenore Tsattie; Zuni Pueblo: 23:05.

The top ten in each division were recognized with the top three receiving beautiful Zuni pottery plates. Overall winners of each division’s plate acclaimed their new national championship title. The event included an open community run with participants from as far away as North Carolina, and New Hampshire. There were also youth 1K and 400 meter dashes, and one and two mile fitness walks.

Proceeds from the race go towards funding the Sports Warriors Track Club to compete at sanctioned USATF National Championship races. The next championship race for the Sports Warriors will be the USATF Club Cross-Country Championships this December in Lexington, KY. The Sports Warriors Track Club has partnered with Native American owned Brenco Industrial Services LLC of Dallas, TX. For more information about the Sports Warriors Track club and to stay informed on the 2010 championships, contact e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Native American Sports Council (NASC) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit multi-sport community based member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The NASC promotes athletic excellence and wellness within Native American communities through sports programs which combine traditional Native American values with those of the modern Olympics.