by Press Release
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. 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).
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 |
| Aisha Ramone | 12th | Kirtland Central HS, Kirtland, NM | Diné | 19:07/NXRSW |
| Madeline Castillo | 10th | Alamosa HS, Alamosa, CO | Acoma Pueblo | 19:16/NXRSW |
| Lia Castillo | 11th | Alamosa HS, Alamosa, CO | Acoma Pueblo | 19:27/NXRSW |
| Lorianna Piestewa | 10th | McKinley Academy/Miyamura HS, Gallup, NM | Diné/Hopi | 19:48/NXRSW |
| Violet Francisco | 11th | Rio Rancho HS, Rio Rancho, NM | Diné | 19:51/NXRSW |
| Whitney James | 12th | Ganado HS, Ganado, AZ | Diné | 19:58/NXR SW |
| Destiny Chino | 9th | Santa Fe Indian School, Santa Fe, NM | Acoma Pueblo | 20:01/NXRSW |
| Alesyia Barlow | 11th | Snowflake HS, Snowflake, AZ | Diné | 20:13/NXR SW |
Men’s Team Members:
| Name | Grade | School | Tribal Affiliation(s) | Qualifying Time/Race |
| Kutoven Stevens | 12th | Yerington HS | Yerington Paiute | 15:25/NXRSW |
| Bahozhoni Church | 12th | Albuquerque HS, Albuquerque, NM | Pokagon Band of Potawatomi/Diné | 15:49/NXRSW |
| Micah Slivers | 11th | Ganado HS, Ganado, AZ | Diné | 15:50/NXRSW |
| Erol Yellowhair | 12th | Skyridge HS, Lehi, UT | Diné/Hopi | 16:20/NXRSW |
| Cody Toya | 12th | Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, NM | Jemez Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache | 16:31/NXRSW |
| Lance Harris | 12th | Flagstaff HS, Flagstaff, AZ | Diné | 16:32/NXR SW |
| Reeve Tarter | 11th | Midway HS, Waco, TX | Chickasaw | 16:35/NXRSouth |
| Kameron Eustace | 12th | Zuni HS, Zuni, NM | Zuni Pueblo | 16:38/NXR SW |
Wings created this 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
