by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
“My name is LaKyla Yazzie and I run Cross Country and Track for Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). I am 5-7 and I am a freshman,” said LaKyla, 18.
“I am very proud to say that I am Navajo. Both my mother and father are Navajo. My mother’s name is Valerie Yazzie and my father’s name is Johnnie Yazzie. They both live together on the Navajo Nation reservation in Upper Fruitland, New Mexico, it’s where I lived my entire childhood,” added LaKyla.
LaKyla addressed the connection of her core values to sport: “My tribal core values define me as a student athlete significantly. Whenever I run or race I love to wear my turquoise necklace because it’s what defines me. Wearing turquoise helps the holy people recognize me as a young female woman. So wearing it as I race makes me feel stronger.”
“I am aiming to get my Doctorate in Physical Therapy,” said LaKyla. “Being an athlete while in school helps me on this journey because it keeps me balanced mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Running releases a lot of stress for me, especially after a long day of being in class and doing homework. It helps me to channel my emotions. When I run, I always smell the nature around me; it fills me with happy emotions because it brings back content memories of home. Since I am 1,300 miles away from home I do get homesick every so often. Being a student athlete also keeps me out of trouble and keeps me on top of my schoolwork.”
LaKyla talked about her high school athletic influences: “My high school coach, Lenny Esson, had a big influence on me as a student athlete. He always made sure that the team kept their grades up and made it clear to us if we needed help in class that we had each other for help. He made it clear that by having good grades, it would help us get scholarships once we graduated and went to college. He distilled a family bond between my high school team, and treated each of us like we were his own. My high school running career was pretty rocky, so it particularly was hard for me to mentally stay focused when it came to running. But Lenny always took it upon himself to talk to me on the days I would struggle with a workout or in a race. There came a point when I wanted to quit running entirely but he convinced me to stay, which I am super glad he did. He had the biggest influence on me because he would never give up on me, I know a lot of people did considering I continuously became slower over the years, but there was never a moment when he doubted my capabilities. The belief that he had in me is what fueled me to do better in class and on the track. Letting him down became one of my biggest fears. It’s because of this that I maintained good grades and how I made my comeback in running. It’s quite insane how one person believing in you impacts you mentally.”
Younger student athletes look up to older student athletes to find out how to be successful. “Understand that what you do in high school does have an impact on what you plan to do in the future. There are so many scholarships available out there and colleges will give students scholarships for having good grades in high school. I know that a lot of people end up not going to college because it’s costly. But by taking your education serious, it will help you more than you know and open doors to new opportunities. Also taking dual credit classes while you’re in high school does help a lot as well.”
“I really want the Native American youth to have the opportunity of going to college or getting the career they desire. Doing so will help strengthen our communities. Anyone is capable of achieving the career; you just have to be willing to go the extra mile. Also student athletes who have siblings should keep in mind that what they do has an influence on the youth, especially those who have younger brothers and sisters. Be someone you’d want them to look up to and never give up hope,” added LaKyla.
LaKyla shared her athletic accomplishments: “My athletic accomplishments are third place in the 3200m and sixth place in the 1600m at the State track meet my 8th grade year, eighth place at state in XC my freshman year, and runner up in both the 1600m and 800m my senior year of high school. I hold the school records in the 800m, 1600m, 3200m, and I’m a part of the medley team who broke the school record as well for Kirtland Central High School. I placed 46th at the NCAA D2 regional XC meet in 2019.
Kirtland Central High School Cross Country Coach Lenny Esson said: “LaKyla is a wonderful young lady. I’ve had the pleasure of coaching her from eighth grade to high school. She is a very quiet person who is a great leader by example both in the classroom and on the course. LaKyla had some early running success in high school then met adversity her last two seasons. She strengthened and willed her way thru them and received a running scholarship in college. LaKyla is academically sound and focused, using athletics to pave the way. She is a future Native leader.”
“Running adversity such as lingering injuries and health concerns. She finally went in and was diagnosed with anemia. She received treatments and bounced back her final year of track to show some great times. I didn’t coach her in track. These contributed to self-doubt and her confidence, but I didn’t give up on her and she followed my instructions to get the help,” added Coach Esson.
LaKyla’s positive running influences continued to the spring track season. “LaKyla is truly one of a kind,” said KCHS track distance coach Sheri Winward. “We had three very talented distance runners on our team. One was a freshman, one was a senior doing her first year of track, and the other was LaKyla. She had the most experience and she took the leadership role in stride. She worked with the other two girls to not only improve herself but to help them improve as well. She pushed herself every workout, and that motivated the other girls to do the same. Every track meet she would run with the other girls and they would push each other to get the best time. She always did what the head coach and I would ask of her. At district we asked LaKyla if she would be willing to run the 4×200 for us because we had an amazing opportunity to win district as a team. She came through for us and ran the anchor leg for the 4×200. She also ran the 800, 1600, 3200, and did the high jump. She ended up being a district champ in the high jump, 3200, and 4×200. LaKyla also gave up winning the 1600m so that her other teammate could win and go to state. At state she took 2nd in the 800, and 2nd in 1600, and she ran her best time. She is a true class act. She was also an amazing student, as she was salutatorian for her class. I never heard one teacher or coach complain about her. I am honored to have had the opportunity to coach LaKyla for the past two years.”
Head KCHS track coach Leland Adair added: “I was able to coach LaKyla for five years. In the years she ran for me, KCHS girls track team won three district titles, and she was a big part as to why we won. Never in the history of KCHS girls track has that happened. She is a very talented runner. She did have some hardships that she had to overcome. Her sophomore and junior year were extremely hard for her. She couldn’t get the energy to run and a lot of people were starting to count her out. However, I knew she would rise above it all and her senior year she excelled. She now holds four school record for the 800, 1600, 3200, and sprint medley relay respectfully. I also had her in class and she is one hardworking student. I could always count on LaKyla being a great leader for the team. She was extremely coachable and just a joy to have around. She knew what she needed to do and she got it done. At district her senior year she scored 28 points. We would have won district without her. In my 28 years of coaching she is at the top in terms of an athlete, student, and as an individual.”
LaKyla is a long distance from her family and home. This is one of the reasons young college student athletes leave to go home. She plans to stay at college in Minnesota and has support from Mom and Dad. “I like it and this would be a good start for her and make her stronger rather than having her parents helping her like some of these kids that rely on their parents,” said mom Valerie. “As a mom I just want her to take that big responsibility for herself.”
“During the recruiting process it was LaKyla’s perseverance in navigating the ups and downs of her high school career and her passion for the sport that caught my attention,” said Ryan Milner, Head Cross Country Coach, Minnesota State University Moorhead.
“That perseverance and passion have been on display during her first semester here at MSUM. Moving nearly 1,300 miles from home, struggling with homesickness, taking challenging courses, and being counted on to contribute as a freshman is a lot to navigate. Working through all of that she was our top runner at the NCAA Regional Championship and cracked our cross-country all-time top 10 for 6000m,” added Coach Milner.
“LaKyla has All-American level talent,” said Coach Milner. “As long as she continues to stay focused and work hard she’ll accomplish great things as a Dragon.”
Click on LaKyla Yazzie’s MSUM Dragon Profile: https://www.msumdragons.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6719
Photo Credit: Tom Berg
