Chinle siblings Alisia and Isaiah Honyumpetwa both took home individual titles during the 3A North Regional Cross-Country Championships at Window Rock High School in Fort Defiance.

Alisia, a senior, easily won the girl's championship, touring the 5K course in 17:59. Ganado junior Jayla McIntosh finished second place, negotiating the terrain in 20:28.

Isaiah shook off runner-up Demetrius Daw of Tuba City, enroute to earning the boy's crown. Isaiah was clocked in 16:26, while Daw completed the race in 16:57.

Alisia had a great start, taking the lead after 100-meters. Midway through the race, she extended her lead to nearly 400-meters. As the race continued, she got stronger, racing alone. When she crossed the finish line, she was nearly 800-meters ahead of the second place racer.

"It was a good race," Alisia said. "I was focused and ready to race. I took the lead from the beginning of the race. I extended my lead at midway of the race. I continued to race harder. I don't know how far back second place runner was. I didn't look back."

Alisia said she was hoping her teammates would be up front in the top 10.

"Prior to the race, I knew Ganado was going to be challenging," Alisia said. "We had to break up their top five finishers and get help from other teams."

Alisia said the course was challenging at some places.

"I never raced on this course," Alisia explained. "My teammates and I walked and jogged the course prior to the start of the race. The course looked good. At some of places of the course, it was challenging. I was able to race well in those challenging places."

Alisia said she is looking forward this Friday's Division III, Sectional Cross-Country Championships at Hidden Cove Golf Course in Holbrook. The Sectional meet is a state qualifying race.

"I am preparing for the Sectional meet," she said. "The Sectional meet is a state championship qualifying race. My teammates and I will focused on racing hard at the Sectional meet. My teammates and I want to qualify as a team at the Sectional meet. The Sectional meet is always challenging."

Ganado nailed down the girl's regional championship, finishing with 33 points. Tuba City followed with 48 points. Chinle claimed third place with 60 points. Window Rock chalked up 92 points, Kayenta Monument Valley totaled 145 points and Page rounded out the scoring with 166 points.

Ganado's Kayla Beck completed the race in third place, clocking a 20:31. Lady Hornet teammate Whitney James was timed in 20:41 for seventh place. Lady Hornets' Marissa Smith posted a 21:04 for 10th place. Shaunda Yazzie was Ganado's fifth scoring runner, touring the course in 21:05 for 11th place.

Isaiah said he felt well while warming up for the boy's regional meet.

"I was well prepared," Isaiah said. "When I was warming up, I noticed Page wasn't racing their varsity. Page, with their regular varsity team, is one of the best in the state. Page's top racer Bowen Martin wasn't in the field. Bowen is a top racer in the state."

Isaiah said he sprinted out of the starting line, taking the lead after 100-meters. He said he felt well, when he decided to pick up his speed midway through the race.

"I wanted to pick it up midway through the race, to see if the guy behind me would pick it up as well," Isaiah said. "He didn't come after me, so I maintained my speed and I pulled away. I felt pretty good. I didn't get tired."

Isaiah said he began to speed up with about 800-meters remaining in the race.

"When I finished the race, I didn't feel tired," he said. "In fact, I felt pretty good. I was hoping my teammates would finish in the top 10."

Kayenta Monument Valley garnered the boy's regional title, netting 35 points. Chinle scored 65 points for second place, followed by Window Rock with 75 points. Page tallied 85 points for fourth place. Ganado chalked up 87 points for fifth place. Tuba City did not score, after the Warriors did not field the mandatory five runners.

Enroute to earning the boy's regional title, Kayenta Monument Valley's top finisher was Canyden Smith, who was runner-up, with a 17:34 time. Matthew Cly was the Mustangs' second runner, claiming fifth place with a 17:50 showing. Autry Laughter copped seventh place, posting an 18:01. Colwyn Nelson completed the race in 18:07 for eighth place. Rounding out the scoring for the Mustangs was Isaiah Whitehorse, who finished 13th place, clocking an 18:26.

2A Regionals

The Many Farms Lobos garnered the girl's and boy's first place honors at the 2A North Regional Cross-Country Championships, hosted by Hopi High School.

There was only three complete teams racing in the girl's division. Many Farms netted 24 points. Valley Sanders chalked up 34 points for runner-up. Rounding out the team scoring was Hopi with 64 points.

Six schools had complete teams in the boy's division. Many Farms posted 44 points for first place. Greyhills Academy was runner-up with 65 points, followed in third place by Hopi with 71 points. Alchesay netted 74 points for fourth place. Valley Sanders collected 121 points for fifth place. Rounding out the team scoring was Pinon with 143 points.

Pinon senior Precious Robinson was the individual girl's regional champion. Robinson toured the 5K course in 18:44. Robinson finished well ahead of runner-up Nizhoni James, of Valley Sanders, who was clocked in 20:56.

Claiming the boy's individual boy's regional championship was Valley Sanders' Justin James. He crossed the finish line in 17:24. Runner-up honors went to Ethan Tacheene, of Many Farms. Tacheene was clocked in 18:02.

The Division IV, Sectional Cross-Country Championships is scheduled for this Friday at Hidden Cove Golf Course in Holbrook. The Sectional meet is a state qualifying race.