Common Cause Spurs Wings Of America Women's Team

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Eight young runners, ranging from high school juniors to college freshmen, make up the roster of this year's Wings of America cross country team. They come from three states, have diverse competitive backgrounds and all share a passion for the the sport and a desire to represent their Native American culture.

They will race together only once, Feb. 2 at the USATF Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Fla. 

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"It was easy to connect with other runners because most of us live on the reservation and we kind of see the same problems, and see the same things happening to our families," said Rosalie Fish, a senior at Muckleshoot Tribal School in Bonney Lake, Wash.

"For me, anyways, (running) kept us safe a lot; I think it's a common love for running that we all have."

Founded in 1988, Wings of America is an organization that provides Native youth a platform to represent native communities through the sport of running. Based in New Mexico, athletes ranging from 14-19 years of age have the opportunity to qualify for the Wings National Team through any Foot Locker or Nike Cross Regional race. Wings then selects eight male and female runners (seven and one alternate) to represent the program at the junior level at the USATF Cross Country Championships.

Next month, Wings will be vying for their 31st and 32nd team titles. 

"They really support each other," Wings of America Executive Director Dustin Martin explained. "Maybe even more so than the boys (this year) they kind of create a family amongst each other."

For Martin, entering his eighth year in charge of Wings, he believes this may be one of the best women's teams ever assembled under his watch. In December, all the members came together for a multi-day training camp in Albuquerque.

"We are all here for a reason, (and) it's the same reason,” Fish said. "We already had a lot of things in common, and it was pretty easy to talk to each other.” 

Added Martin: "The girls have really no issues coming together and getting to know each other. They talked to each other about training, and they challenge each other for sure. This set of girls is the most receptive to training. I’m excited to see how they perform in Florida.” 

The women’s team is led by senior Alisia Honyumptewa of Chinle High in Chinle, Ariz. and junior Ali Upshaw of St. Michael Indian School in Defiance, Ariz. Upshaw finished 18th overall at the Foot Locker West Regionals. Martin also mentioned newcomer Fish, in her first year on the team, is an individual who has shown promise. 

“She's (Fish) just training at a level she’s never experienced before,” Martin explained. “I’m really excited to see what she may do. I think she could really develop immensely with the devotion she’s showing.” 

During the training camp, Martin stressed the importance of communication leading up to race day and the importance of continuing to train diligently for the upcoming event. The men will compete on an 8,000-meter course, while the women's distance has increased from 5K to 6K. 

At the training camp, Martin had the girls do three times 2,000 meters and boys 4x2,000 interval repeat sessions to get acclimated. 

"For us to come together, and having girls that run about the same pace and push each other, it's really nice," Honyumptewa said. 

Honyumptewa is one of five runners for the women's team that has experience running on a Wings team. 

For the men, it’s a relatively young group that will toe the line. Without veteran Kashon Harrison, a two-time Foot Locker finalist who opted not to compete for a fourth year, the team is led by junior Lee Nasewytewa of Desert Vista High in Ahwatukee, Ariz., and senior Ty McCray, of Miyamura High, in Thoreau, N.M. 

“Lee has been putting in the work,” Martin said. “(And) Ty McCray is extremely talented and if he continues to get in the base mileage I’m suggesting, he may have a very, very good race down in Florida.”

While Martin said he’s hoping for a more competitive field for his teams to run again this year, the idea of bragging rights and native pride is a big reason to keep running for Wings. 

"It really means a lot," Fish said of the opportunity. "We all noticed that all of the coaches say the same thing to us before a race. All of our coaches tell us we're not just running for ourselves, but running for our families, and our tribes and all of Indian country."

For Honyumptewa, running for Wings is something she's always wanted to do and be a part of because of what the organization stands for and provides -- a different lens for outside viewers to see Native Americans. 

"To be (able to) show people what Native Americans are capable of doing, it's really mind-blowing, especially for people who see Native Americans as just stereotypes, that all they do is drink, drop out of school ... the suicide rates here are really high," Honyumptewa said. "Just to show people we aren't all that, we actually push ourselves and we want to do better for our community and ourselves."

Wings Of America Women's Roster

Chamique DuBoise, University of New Mexico, Freshman, Vanderwagen, N.M., Diné Tribe

Alisia Honyumptewa, Chinle HS, 12th, Chinle, Ariz., Diné

Precious Robinson, Pinon HS, 12th, Pinon, Ariz., Diné

Jasmine Turtle-Morales, Eldorado HS, 11th, Albuquerque, N.M., Cochiti/Mescalero Apache/Hopi

Ali Upshaw, St. Michael Indian School, 10th, Ft. Defiance, Ariz., Diné

Reilly Deirdre McClanahan, Eldorado HS, 12th, Albuquerque, N.M., Diné

Tiajhae Nez, Kirtland Central HS, 12th,  Kirtland, N.M., Diné

Rosalie Fish, Muckleshoot Tribal School, 12th, Bonney Lake, Wash., Cowlitz