2025 Wings National Team

For the 36th time since 1988, Wings of America sponsored a team of the fastest Native American runners ages 14-19 to compete at the USA Cross Country Championships. Nine young men and eight young women represented the organization in the “junior” age division races on January 11, 2025 at the Chapparal Ridge Cross Country Course at Lubbock Christian University. They embraced the unique opportunity to race the NCAA regular-season cross country distances (Women 6KM, Men 8KM), as well as line up with numerous college freshman.

Most of the team met at the Wings HQ in Albuquerque before carpooling to Texas. Although they had to creep through a winter storm for the last leg of the journey, it helped them avoid frustrating delays that many who flew into Dallas or Lubbock experienced. Race day conditions were slightly windy and brisk- but nothing too severe.

In the men’s race, the Wings runners from New Mexico captured the organization’s 35th “Team Title”. It should be noted that team scores are only counted when Wings has enough National Team Members from the same USATF association (state) to score as a team. We are proud of these young runners for representing their Tribes and communities. We would also like to commend the Sports Warriors Track Club for representing Native runners in the open men’s race and master’s men’s races. Coached by former Wings coach and board member, Michael Daney, the Sports Warrior’s open men’s team also won the team race.

Results for the Junior Women’s Race

Results for the Junior Men’s Race

Results for the Open Men’s Race

SELECTED RUNNERS

Name/Grade	Tribal Affiliation(s)	Seed Time(s)	Qualifying Race(s)	School/Town
WOMEN				
Stella Hall*/12th	Hopi	18:21	NXR Southwest	Highland HS, Gilbert, AZ
Janessa Segay*/12th	Diné	18:42	NXR Southwest	Chinle HS, Chinle, AZ
Taylor Biggambler*/11th	Diné	18:53	NXR Southwest	Flagstaff HS, Flagstaff, AZ
Damira Allen*/11th	Diné	19:07	NXR Southwest	Ganado HS, Ganado, AZ
Kylie Montaño/11th	Diné	19:12	NXR Southwest	Miyamura HS, Gallup, NM
Marisel Yepa/11th	Jemez Pueblo	19:13	NXR Southwest	V Sue Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, NM
Karis Brightwings-Pease**/10th	Crow Tribe	19:13	NXR Northwest	Hardin HS, Hardin, MT
Jazelle Thompson/10th	Diné	19:21	NXR Southwest	Shiprock HS, Shiprock, NM
Madeline Castillo*/College Frosh	Pueblo of Acoma	23:19	NCAA D-1 South Regional	University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
MEN				
Symond Martin*/11th	Diné	15:31	NXR Southwest	Page HS, Page, AZ
Trajn Swalstad/12th	Colville Tribe	15:43	NXR Northwest	Worland HS, Worland, WY
Elijah England/10th	Diné	15:48	NXR Southwest	Navajo Prep, Farmington, NM
Tagoyo Pedro/11th	Laguna Pueblo	15:48/16:40	NXR Southwest	Laguna-Acoma HS, Casa Blanca, NM
Benjamin Benally/11th	Diné	16:04	NXR Southwest	Valley Lutheran HS, Phoenix, AZ
Jonathan (Ephraim) Staley/11th	Blood Tribe	16:10/16:22	Footlocker South/NXR Midwest	Mankato West HS, Mankato, MN
Bearren Kee*/11th	Diné	16:14/16:54	NXR Southwest/Footlocker West	Window Rock HS, Ft. Defiance, AZ
Darian Penn/12th	Diné	16:14	NXR Southwest	Piedra Vista HS, Farmington, NM
Lucas Williams*/12th	Tohono O’odham/Diné	16:15	NXR Southwest	Mica Mountatin HS, Tucson, AZ

NOTE: Three runners selected for the 2025 National Team; Maddie Castillo, Symond Martin, Ephraim Staley are children of runners that have made previous Wings National Teams. We are especially proud that our program continues to foster the ambitions of multiple generations of Native runners!

STATS FOR ALL ELIGIBLE RUNNERS

115 student-athletes completed the application to be considered for the 2025 Wings National Team. Of these 115, 85 runners eventually posted a seed time: 58 (55 HS, 3 College) boys, 27 (25 HS, 2 College) girls. An impressive 28 Tribes were represented amongst these prospective qualifiers: Northern Cheyenne, Cheyenne River Sioux, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Cheyenne & Arapaho, Mvskokee/Creek Nation, Cherokee, Zuni Pueblo, Taos Pueblo, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Blood Tribe, Jicarilla Apache, Hopi, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of San Il Defonoso, Pueblo of Santo Domingo, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Jemez, Santa Clara Pueblo, Zuni Pueblo, Gros Venture, Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians Red Cliff Band, Colville Tribe, Tohono O’odham, Pascua Yaqui, Crow Tribe, Caddo Nation & Diné

Runners were selected for the team based on their performance at post-season championship races, including Nike Cross Regionals and Footlocker Cross Country Regionals. College freshman that are age-eligible for the “Junior” race (will not turn 20 in 2025) were also considered for team selection based on their late-season collegiate times.  After an open registration period in which runners identified themselves as eligible for selection, those with the 9 fastest regional qualifying times (or late-season collegiate times), men and women, were invited to be a part of the Wings National Team.

Please see information about all runners that posted seed times below:

Wings National Team Winter Training Camp

In addition to traveling with Wings to USA Cross Country Championships, National Team members are traditionally invited to a training camp hosted in Albuquerque, NM over the holidays. Apart from providing additional motivation to train for Nationals, this camp provides an opportunity for Team Members to get to know one another before their travels. However, because of the short timeframe between the holidays and USA Cross Country Championships in 2025, Wings has chosen to cancel the training camp opportunity to preserve the energy and health of National Team Members. Wings hopes to revive the winter training camp in future years.

Qualifying Race Registration & Lodging Assistance

Wings provided dozens of deserving student-athletes with travel and race registration assistance to attend their regional qualifying race. This year Wings staff and student-athletes travelled to Nike Cross Southwest Regional in Mesa, AZ on November 22-23, 2024. Dozens of others made the trip with their families, with race registration and lodging covered by the Wings organization.

Wings will assisted Native American high school student-athletes wishing to qualify for the Wings National Team with one or more of the following:

–Race Registration Fees

-Hotel Room Costs

-Travel to NXR SW Race

To receive NXR or Champs Sports Regional race assistance, runners met the following standards:

• Finish at or below the qualifying time in at least one (5K) race during the 2024 high school cross country season.
  • Boys: 17:40 
  • Girls: 21:30
  • **If your state races a distance other than 5K, please contact Wings for a qualifying time**
• Complete the 2025 Wings National Team Application.
• Submit a grade check form and class schedule.
  • Must be in good academic standing (C average or better in each class) to receive assistance.
• Provide proof of affiliation in a state or federally recognized tribal nation (United States only).

Special Thanks:

Wings would like to recognize the Padma Family Foundation for making a $5,000 contribution three years running to help the organization cover travel and race registration costs for Native runners and their families attempting to make the Wings National Team. Thank you Padma! We look forward to many more miles together!

Wings also owes special appreciation to On Inc. for providing our National Team with in-kind race uniforms and warm-ups. These items are customized using the silkscreen press at the Wings Headquarters prior to race day. In addition to in-kind Team kits, On also provides in-kind shoes to provide ALL runners that try out for the Wings team with a new pair of trainers for the spring and summer. In 2025, On provided Wings with 200 pairs of adult a kid-sized running shoes to give to Native youth dedicated to Wings’ programs. Thank you ON for helping our participants Run On Clouds!

Questions? Contact Mariah Gachupin, Program Director

Ph: (505) 521-9799 Email: mariah@wingsofamerica.org