by By Dan Ninham
A state team champion cross country runner is finishing her final track season strong.
Kylah Two Leggings, 19, is a senior at Hardin High School in Montana.
“My tribe is Crow and my clans are Greasy Mouth and Child of Whistling Water,” said Khylah. “My Indian name is Bassakuaxia saash meaning Well Known Leader.”
“I became a cross country runner when I was in fourth grade at Hardin Intermediate,” said Khylah. “I didn’t compete in an actual cross country race until I was in sixth grade. When I became a freshman at Hardin HS I was on varsity for cross country and been on varsity ever since.”
Khylah is a three-time All-State team member and State Team Champion cross country runner. She is honored to have a plaque of her and her team that was in the Billings Gazette.
“I come from a traditional family,” said Khylah. “All my brothers and sisters were runners before me. There used to be good runners back then, running is genetic in our family and it’s been going on for years. I just incorporate a family Geno Code with running and so family core cultural values are just incorporated in me with my sport.”
“Khylah is an outstanding athlete whose recognition goes unnoticed and unacknowledged,” said Uncle Noel Two Leggins. “She is the only runner on the team to complete the state title race in the top 15 for three consecutive years. She has earned the title of All-State and achieved all her awards from support of family.”
“Khylah descends from great grandfathers and mothers who were excellent in foot races and cultural sports that dominated in the Great Plains when it came to the days when our ancestors were nomadic,” said Noel. “It is the endurance of a certain individual that makes them a great athlete. She is a great example that anyone can be an athlete, runner and endurance individual.”
“As a family, we followed her in all her running meets and career. We would take our younger nieces and nephews to watch her run and it inspires them to become a great athlete as she molded herself to be. As Native Americans we are visual learners and when we view a passion that engages our inner athlete, it activates the will and pursuit to accomplish an entitlement such as Khylah’s well earned, gained and devout achievements.”
“Two people positively influenced me as an athlete,” said Khylah. “The first one is my grandpa Sarge Old Horn and he passed away a couple months ago. Seeing all his accomplishments and hearing his stories inspired me to be a cross country runner and I heard he was a wonderful and great athlete.”
“The second one to positively influence me as an athlete is my older brother Jalen Two Leggins. He started running when he was younger and he also ran in high school and went to college for running. He helped me with my cross country season and told me what to do and what not to do. It was a great experience to have a sibling that ran as well and has a lot of medals too,” added Khylah.
Big brother Jalen was a college runner at Southwestern Community College. He talked about his sister being an outstanding runner: “Khylah undoubtedly had the talent to be one of the best girl runners. It was her determination during the season that really set her apart, and when the season rolled around she was determined to work hard and do what it takes to push herself and her teammates to compete for a state title. She’s got a very strong mentality when it comes to things, and her personality to try and help others and build them up as well, is what set her apart and made her a key component to the state titles she helped earned.”
“Physically, I am staying in shape as much as I can,” said Khylah. “Emotionally and mentally I started to get anxiety when we were in the pandemic and I still struggle with it. I do breathing exercises to keep it under control. Most of the time I try not to let it get the best of me. Spiritually I use cedar and go into the sweat. I’m praying as well and I do read my scriptures. These all help me in my daily life or before I run a race.”
Photo Credit: Autumn Jefferson
