2025 (Fall/Winter) Wings National Team

For the Fall/Winter of 2025, Wings has decided to sponsor our 37th National Team to a new meet: RunningLane Cross Country Championships. Since 2020, this elite-level meet has been hosted in Huntsville, AL and attracted some of the best teams and individual from around the US to compete for bragging rights after the regular cross country season.

The RunningLane race directors have graciously committed to offering Wings’ National Teams (men’s & women’s) a special 21st spot in the GOLD DIVISION race at their meet on December 6th 2025. Wings National Team members will also receive a custom team kit like other Gold Division competitors and be scored alongside other dominant high school squads from across the U.S.. However, the Wings Team will represent Indian Country!

On January 11, 2025, the 36th Wings National Team competed at USA Cross Country Championships in Waco, TX. The Men’s Team captured the organization’s 35th National Team Title at this meet.

To be considered for the 37th Wings National Team, high school-aged (14-18) Native American runners MUST:

  • Complete the Fall/Winter ’25 Wings National Team Application by November 24, 2025 (12pm MST)
  • Provide proof of enrollment in a federally or state recognized Native American Tribe or Alaskan Native Corporation.
  • Post a seed time at any Nike Cross Regional meet held between November 9th & November 24th, 2025.
  • Native American runners attending high school in California may compete at Nike Cross Southwest or submit 5K time from November 5th, 2025 onwards.
  • Selected runners and those applying for regional race registration/lodging assistance will need to submit a grade check that shows they have a C-average or better in each of their fall courses.

Regional Race Assistance:

Similar to recent years, Wings National Team Members will be selected based on seed times run at post-season “Nike Cross Regional” meets. This requirement creates incentive for talented Native high school runners to keep training after their state cross country meets AND gain competition experience at a higher level. Since the Foot Locker XC Championships have been discontinued, Nike Cross Regional (NXR) races are now the only meets aspiring Wings National Team Members can post seed times at to be considered for selection for the team that will travel to Hunstville December 4-7th, 2025. (Unless you attend High School in California and will be competing for your high school on November 5th, 2025 or later).

Wings will offer regional race registration and/or lodging assistance to Native American runners on a “first come, first served” basis if they meet the following requirements:

  • Complete the Fall/Winter ’25 Wings National Team Application at least 2 weeks before the regional race they wish to run.
  • Have posted an official 5K time of 17:30 (boys) or 21:15 (girls) or faster at least 2 weeks before the regional qualifying race they wish to run.
  • Provide proof of enrollment in a federally or state recognized Native American Tribe or Alaskan Native Corporation.
  • Submit a grade check that shows they have a C-average or better in each of their fall courses at least one week before the regional race they wish to run.

The Nike Cross Southwest Regional Race provides a unique opportunity for Native runners to come together and compete as a “team” after a season of running against one another. Wings hosts a dinner for the many families that descend upon “The Valley” to watch their runners compete the night before the race. To the right, regional race runners pose with their jerseys the night before their race in November of 2023.