The iconic image of Wyoming Indian High School junior Ano Brown leading the runners in the annual Chiefs Nation Cross Country meet at Wyoming Indian High School is an enduring one. Brown in full regalia, on his white horse started all four divisions on a hot afternoon at Ethete.
The course at Wyoming Indian High School is a challenging one with a steep hill greeting runners in the opening 800 meters, and a long slide down the other side. There was a surprise for workers preparing the course earlier in the week when they discovered a sow black bear and cub feeding on fish trapped in an irrigation canal on the south side of the course. That along with a nest of bull snakes that periodically came out from a prairie dog den were reminders of how unique, and wonderful life in the west can be.
Jadeth Elder of Thermopolis won the event sprinting past Burlington’s Connor Hoyt down the stretch but it was the Lander Tiger boys who took the team title behind top 10 finishes from Mack White, Logan Milek, and Michah Jordan.
The Tiger Girls ran away with the title behind a one-two finish from freshman Dorothy Jensen and senior Ameya Eddy. Blue Blackburn and Twyla Beason were also top 10 finishers for the Lady Tigers.
The Lady Chiefs held off Saratoga for second place with Dai’Onna Posey pacing Wyoming Indian with a third-place finish.
The race featured Little Wound, South Dakota and Manila, Utah in competition this year.
Chiefs Nation Invitational Cross Country
Boys Top 10:
1.Jadeth Elder, THM, 17:58.11, 2. Connor Hoyt, BUR, 18:00.54, 3. Mack White, LAN 18:20.22, 4. Howard McNiven, BUR 18:34.66, 5. Logan Milek, LAN 18:58.36, 6. Paul McNiven, BUR 18:58.43, 7. Logan Wells, RAW 19:02.64, 8. David Durfee, LOV 19:04.73, 9. Michah Jordan, LAN 19:07.81, 10. Jordan Black, WI 19:09.40
Girls Top 10:
1.Dorothy Jensen, LAN 21:38.65, 2. Ameya Eddy, LAN 22:42.02, 3. Dai’Onna Posey, WI 22:57.40, 4. Isabelle Murdock, GR 23:33.24, 5. Faith Fischer, RAW 23:48.24, 6. Blue Blackburn, LAN 24:15.97, 7. Tahca Zephier, Little Wound, 24:44.33, 8. Makinzea Lynch, RAW, 24:50.73, 9. Ellie Quiroz, GR 24:55.70, 10. Twyla Beason, LAN 25:05.87
Teams from Ft. Washakie, St. Stephen’s, Wyoming Indian, and Lander competed at Ethete Friday Afternoon – h/t Randy Tucker
