SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL TAKING TO THE HILLS

The Santa Fe Indian School cross country runners are trying to turn bad news into good news in these times of the coronavirus pandemic.

With their girls and boys program under head coach Joe Calabaza scratched this season because of tribal rules, it spoiled not only a chance for the boys to claim the top spot in the state 3A team championships, but also senior Chris Humetewa’s turn to finish first after two sparkling bids of placing third in back-to-back years.

As a team, the Braves ran second to Zuni in the 2018 final at the Rio Rancho High School course, losing 40-49. but in 2019, it was all Zuni leaving the field way behind, including whooping runner-up Indian School, 23-92, by taking first, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth, with all seniors except for its harrier who came in 20th.

After that, it appeared to be the Braves’ time to hoist the championship trophy, as they would return Humetewa and seniors Isiah Valasquez, Isaiah Desheno, DeBryland Canderario, Ethan Vigil and James Mora.

The girls were not as fortunate. A young group that finished fourth had only two seniors, one of whom was Iris Emery, whose freshman sister, Kendra Emery, was the team’s leading runner, and behind her were fellow freshmen Destiny Marquez, Alexis Aquino, Adrianna Montoya, and Nalani Padilla, but while the Braves would welcome back five of their top harriers, so was reigning state champion Albuquerque Cottonwood Classical Prep, and second place Zuni and third place Laguna-Acoma were returning four.

Young Kendra was the top Braves’ runner all season. At state, she finished 10th in 20:40.00. Taking 16th was Marquez in 21:05.75. Aquino came in 41st in 22:47.15, Montoya was four places behind in 23:05.30, and Padilla 60th in 24:08.80.

So to get to the chase, these Braves were no longer running for Indian School, instead landing at the respective schools where their home districts are. The girls, Emery, Marquez and Aquino, are now with a Bernalillo team that failed to qualify for state last season, but their addition should provide more hope. Montoya is at Espanola Valley.

Humetewa is in just the right place, at state 5A champion Cleveland in Rio Rancho. Not only did he have a faster time than all the Storm runners did at state, but says he’s having a good time training with them, knows several of the guys because that’s his home town, has run with them before, and is looking forward to the four official runs before the hoped-for state championships in which he’s hoping for both an individual and team title.

“We’ve been having good training, running the same courses in our area,” he says. “We’ve gotten some free running shoes and I’m comfortable wearing Nike and Brooks, so my conditioning has been real good, probably my best ever, and I’m in tip-top shape. We run in the early morning and late afternoon, and usually run through these hills near my house. Back in September and October, it was hot, but now the weather is much better to run in.”

And now when he comes home, he’s usually greeted by his dad, Howard, most likely his biggest fan, and who is very knowledgeable of XC and track and field.

At Santa Fe High, also a 5A school, is Velasquez, who trailed his buddy Humetewa at state the last two years. With the Demons, he, too, brings a faster time at state then they did, 17:18.25, and so he would like a top-10 finish on the heels of Humetewa again, who thinks that Cleveland and Santa Fe High will be in the same district. But at last year’s state 5A, the Storm finished first and the Demons last.

Meanwhile, Desheno and Vigil are with Velasquez at Santa Fe High, but Calabaza says he hadn’t had contact with Candelario and Mora. At state, Deshero ran 20th in 17:51.15, and Vigil placed 39th in 18:19.25.

Meanwhile, not only is the talented, well-spoken Humetewa confirming that he’s in his finest times of his young career, that he’s turning in training times at sub 17-flat, but that he also has his mind on competing in college. Currently, he’s looking at Division I University of New Mexico, Division II Adams State, and Trinidad State Junior College in Colorado.

“For me,” he says, “it’s competing in college and getting an education. I’d like to major in secondary education, maybe becoming a teacher, and also minor in social studies because I like politics and history.”

In 8th grade, Humetewa ran for Native American Community Academy, and he says the training was much different, but that it was a time to learn. As a sophomore at SF Indian School, at state he ran the 1,600, 3,200 and anchored the distance medley relay team.

“I finished second in the 1,600 and won the 3,200,” he says. “My junior year, there was no track and field because of the pandemic.”

It’s no doubt a family thing for him.

“My family follows me near and far when I run,” Humetewa says. “When I ran in San DIego, my mom, my dad, my grandma, grandpa, my aunt, my two brothers were all there to cheer me on. The same when I ran in Las Vegas (New Mexico).

“My brothers didn’t run distances,” he says. “My older brother ran the 300-meter hurdles in middle school, and my younger brother did the same both in varsity and junior varsity.”

Injury-wise, Humetewa has been fortunate.

“Last year,” he says, “I missed about a month when I ruptured my it-band. Otherwise, I’ve been clear of injuries.”

Velasquez says he’s looking at Division II Metropolitan State University in Denver to continue his education and do some running. The Demons are now in hybrid and won’t be competing until March 13th at the Santa Fe High XC course. He adds that he’s happy to be running again with Desheno and Vigil, and with possible meeting up with Humetewa along the way. If the state championships are okayed by the governor, they no doubt will.

Because of the pandemic, the Cleveland harriers have also been on a hybrid and won’t be cleared to compete until probably Saturday, Match 13th, with a scheduled meet at Albuquerque Academy versus the Chargers and St. Pius X.

As they do at practices, all the runners will be be wearing face masks. After three more meets, the qualifying individuals and teams will be announced for, and hopeful, that the annual state championships will be run over the course at Rio Rancho High.

Chris’ dad, Howard, is extra proud. He himself is ultra-versatile. At Indian School, he was the team’s sports information director. He kept the running statistics for the program, took videos and assisted Coach Calabaza. Now he’s closer to home as Chris competes for head coach Kenny Henry and the Cleveland Storm.

Last year’s Cleveland team graduated four seniors and returned junior Cody Toya and senior Nathias Rael, as well as being fortunate to add Humetewa. Toya was 15th at state last year in 17:12.05 and Rael placed 19th in the time of 17:18.45, as the Storm won state with 69 points, ahead of Albuquerque Volcano Vista and Piedra Vista, with the two finishing in a runner-up tie with 117 points.

Cleveland sophomore Leah Futey, whose brother, Lucas, graduated after coming in 8th at state, won the girl’s race in 18:26.45, and the team finished third with 99 points behind Albuquerque Eldorado (48) and Volcano Vista (77).

If Humetewa does win state, it will be in 5A and he will be the first Santa Fe Indian School runner to do so since senior Michael Tenorio won 4A in 2016 after finishing second in 2015. But there would be one change, for Chris would be running in the colors of Cleveland High, as will Velasquez, Desheno and Vigil be doing at Santa Fe High.