Narbona Pass, New Mexico – The annual Narbona Pass Classic attracts runners of all ages and levels.
Some participants choose to walk the 5K and 10K courses to the top of the Chuska Mountains, at an elevation of approximately 9,370 feet, while others test their fitness levels on a more demanding course.
Navajo Times | Quentin Jody
Jewels Leslie approaches the finish line of Sunday’s Narbona Pass Classic 5K race. Leslie crossed the finish line in 25 minutes, 15.57 seconds to be the overall female winner.
Former Zuni High School standout Kameron Eustace used the latter to assess his own running ability over the 10-kilometer course, which has some steep inclines, at the start of the race Sunday morning.
“It was my first time here and I had no idea what to expect,” said Eustace, the men’s overall winner. “I’m happy to have this experience and, to be honest, I just came here to have fun.”
There were 324 runners registered for the 10km race, and Eustace completed the gruelling race in 37 minutes 12.39 seconds to beat fellow high school and college running partner Kyle Awelagte to victory.
Awelaguete finished in 37:50.72, while fellow Zuni runner Joseph Harker took third in 38:36.35.
“I wasn’t sure what the final result would be, but it’s really great to come second, especially in Narbona,” Awelaguete said. “It was a tough course, but I only got that position with the help of people I know. Right next to me was another Zuni runner, Joseph. We encouraged each other, so it was good to run with them.”
All three runners’ times were a long way from the course record of 34:07 set in 2009 by Kenyan runner Nicholas Kipruto, who won the 2008 USCAA Cross Country Championships in Buena Vista, Virginia, while attending nearby Diné College.
The women’s winner was Nicole Tsosie of Chinle, who placed 31st overall in 52 minutes 3.86 seconds. The 18-year-old Tsosie improved by nearly two minutes from last year’s third-place finish.
“I feel like I’m more prepared this year,” Tsosie said. “The first time I ran this race it was pretty tough. I ran it the second time last year and it was still pretty tough, but it’s gotten a little easier after running it a few times.”
Top Canadian runner Angela Chalmers holds the women’s course record of 40 minutes, 50 seconds, set in 1987. Chambers is best known for winning the bronze medal in the 3,000 meters at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Navajo Times | Quentin Jody
Kameron Eustace, 20, of Zuni, maintained a steady pace in the 2024 Narbona Pass Classic 10K race on Sunday morning. Eustace won in 37 minutes, 12.39 seconds.
Tsosie, who graduated from Navajo Prep High School this spring, made up ground after the first two miles, which were mostly uphill, and finished 31st overall.
“I was a little out of step with one of my coworkers,” Tsosie said of Glendale Allen, a facilitator with the nonprofit Wings of America.
“I wanted to beat him,” she said. “I chased him up the hill, but he ran downhill. As soon as I got to the hill, I started to collapse.”
Still, Tsosie outran two other women in the final two miles to win.
“It was a difficult race because I’ve been feeling unwell this week,” said Tsosie, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and business administration at Northeastern University in Boston.
Eustace, who graduated from high school in 2022, completed two years of study at Trinidad State University (Colorado) this spring.
“My experience at Trinidad was very different from my high school days,” Eustace said. “It was hard to change the distances I was running as a collegiate runner. I went from never running on Sundays in high school to running seven days a week now.”
“I’ve gotten a lot faster at training and running more,” he added. “I’m trying to run 70 to 80 miles a week.”
Eustace plans to continue his collegiate career in the fall, running for the CSU-Pueblo team.
Awelagte also attends Trinity State University and plans to join the Fort Lewis College men’s cross country team.
5K Race
Due to a mix-up on the bibs issued to the runners in the 5K race, the timing chip recorded Lelanie Benally as the overall winner.
But in reality, 336 racers participated in the race, with Holbrook High School junior Bealen Key winning in 18:40.37 and Kirtland Central High School senior Dathan Esson taking second place in 19:14.85.
New Mexico Highlands University hurler Juelz Leslie placed 15th with a time of 25:15.57, the top female finish.
“I was pretty nervous because it was my first race in 10 months,” Leslie said. “I hadn’t really trained or prepared much because of my injury. I didn’t have high expectations, but I’m glad I was able to finish the race.”
Leslie injured her back at home and became bedridden.
“I could barely walk and my (college) coach told me to take six months off, which was really tough mentally,” the former Wingate runner said. “Then the pain spread to my hip and it felt like it all hit me at once. It’s been a tough year and I’m hoping to finish my senior season with one last pain-free season.”
“I want to enjoy this final period,” she added.
