2022 Wings National Team

The 2020 Wings National Team post-race in San Diego, CA. January 18, 2020.

For the 33rd time since 1988, Wings of America will sponsor a team of the fastest Native American runners ages 14-19 to compete at the USA Cross Country Championships. This is a special team, as they will be the first runners to compete in Wings uniforms in nearly two years, due to the pandemic. Eight young men and eight young women will represent the organization in the “junior” age division races at Mission Bay Park on January 8, 2022 in San Diego, CA. With the help of Wings and their high school coaches, these student-athletes will train through the winter holidays to stay in shape for running competition. Only one member of the 2022 Team, Whitney James from Ganado, AZ, was part of a previous Wings National Team (2020).

Runners were selected for the team based on their performance at post-season championship races, including Nike Cross Regionals and Eastbay Regionals. After an open registration period in which runners identified themselves as eligible for selection, those with the 8 fastest regional qualifying times were invited to be a part of the team. One qualifier, Lorianna Piestewa, decided to pass on the opportunity so that she could honor a prior commitment to her wrestling team. Her spot was offered to the 9th qualifier, Janessa Segay, which she accepted.

A total of 44 student-athletes representing 11 Native American Tribes registered to be considered for selection. However, many other Native athletes competed at these selection races without registering to be considered for the National Team. For a full list of those runners that registered to be considered for the team and their qualifying marks please click the link below.

Public Selection Seedings (2022 Wings Team).

Runners that travelled with Wings to NXN SW after their shakeout run at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, AZ

Apart from sponsoring the National Team, Wings provided dozens of deserving student-athletes with travel and race registration assistance to attend their regional qualifying race. A caravan of 12 Wings athletes attended the Nike Cross Southwest Regional in Tempe, AZ on November 20, 2021. Dozens of others made the trip with their families, with race registration and lodging covered by the organization. Eight of the sixteen athletes selected for the team received some form of assistance to attend their qualifying race.

A list of those selected for the 2022 Wings National Team and their qualifying times is included below:

Women’s Team Members:

Name	Grade	School	Tribal Affiliation(s)	Qualifying Time/Race(5K)
Aisha Ramone	12^th	Kirtland Central HS, Kirtland, NM	Diné	19:07/NXRSW
Madeline Castillo	10^th	Alamosa HS, Alamosa, CO	Acoma Pueblo	19:16/NXRSW
Lia Castillo	11^th	Alamosa HS, Alamosa, CO	Acoma Pueblo	19:27/NXRSW
*Lorianna Piestewa (Passed on opportunity due to prior commitment)	10^th	McKinley Academy/Miyamura HS, Gallup, NM	Diné/Hopi	19:48/NXRSW
Violet Francisco	11^th	Rio Rancho HS, Rio Rancho, NM	Diné	19:51/NXRSW
Whitney James	12^th	Ganado HS, Ganado, AZ	Diné	19:58/NXR SW
Destiny Chino	9^th	Santa Fe Indian School, Santa Fe, NM	Acoma Pueblo	20:01/NXRSW
Alesyia Barlow	11^th	Snowflake HS, Snowflake, AZ	Diné	20:13/NXRSW
Janessa Segay	9^th	Chinle, HS, Chinle, AZ	Diné	20:29/NXRSW

Men’s Team Members:

Name	Grade	School	Tribal Affiliation(s)	Qualifying Time/Race (5K)
Kutoven Stevens	12^th	Yerington HS	Yerington Paiute	15:25/NXRSW
Bahozhoni Church	12^th	Albuquerque HS, Albuquerque, NM	Pokagon Band of Potawatomi/Diné	15:49/NXRSW
Micah Slivers	11^th	Ganado HS, Ganado, AZ	Diné	15:50/NXRSW
Erol Yellowhair	12^th	Skyridge HS, Lehi, UT	Diné/Hopi	16:20/NXRSW
Cody Toya	12^th	Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, NM	Jemez Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache	16:31/NXRSW
Lance Harris	12^th	Flagstaff HS, Flagstaff, AZ	Diné	16:32/NXR SW
Reeve Tarter	11^th	Midway HS, Waco, TX	Chickasaw	16:35/NXRSouth
Kameron Eustace	12^th	Zuni HS, Zuni, NM	Zuni Pueblo	16:38/NXR SW

Honorary Coaches:

In addition to the “Wings Team”, the organization has selected a pair of commendable young adults to serve as a coaches, mentors and chaperones while the team travels to San Diego.

Felicia James (Diné) is a former Running & Fitness Camp Head Facilitator and currently coaches at Shiprock High School in Shiprock, NM. Previously, she coached at Monument Valley High School in Kayenta, AZ. Her work as a Facilitator was invaluable to the Wings organization over multiple summers. Honorary coaches are chosen as thanks for their commitment to Native youth, with hopes that the opportunity to travel with the Wings Team will increase their knowledge of high level competition and encourage their future pupils to also try out for the team. Thanks “Phishy”!

For the men, Wings has asked Jared Lesansee (Jemez Pueblo/Zuni Pueblo) to join the team on the trip to San Diego. Jared began coaching on a volunteer basis for Albuquerque’s “Running Medicine” group, a program of long-time Wings collaborators, Native Health Initiative. He then volunteered as an assistant cross country and track coach at Bernalillo High School from 2019-2021. This fall (’21) was his first season as Head Cross Country Coach. With his help, the Lady Spartans returned to the New Mexico State Cross Country Championships as a team for the first time since 2011. He will continue to build the program as the Distance Coach for the track team this spring.Two of Jared’s younger brothers, Ryan and Jordan, have run on previous Wings National Teams. The Lesansee family is proud to be known as runners.

Wings created the Wings National Team opportunity to showcase the talents of American Indian youth and provide them with exposure to higher levels of competition in the company of runners from other Tribes. Many program alumni have earned the attention of college coaches and/or a spot on a junior national team competing for “Team USA” internationally. Wings National Teams have captured 33 national titles since their debut in 1988.

Questions? Contact Dustin Martin, Executive Director

Ph: (505) 977-5057 E-Mail: dustin@wingsofamerica.org