Wings of America Congratulates our 2012 USATF X-C Championship Team Members

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Last Saturday (February 11, 2012), two teams of Wings athletes ran in the Junior races at the USA Cross Country Championships in St. Louis, Missouri. The event offered some of the Nation’s best long-distance runners (ages 14-19) the chance to earn a spot on Team USA to compete at the 2012 North America, Central American, & Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships.

Woven across a sloping lawn in St. Louis’ Forest Park, this year’s course challenged competitors with sloppy footing, below-freezing temperatures and piercing winds. Though no individual Wings runner qualified to run in red white & blue at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on March 17th, our young men and women captured 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the team race. Wings of America congratulates our outstanding student-athletes on their impressive displays of fitness, fortitude and camaraderie. As in years past, they made certain that Native America was well represented in this important nationally monitored race.

Before stepping to the line, both the men and women’s teams were honored to dedicate their performance to the late Geoff Hollister. As a former board member and constant source of support and inspiration for Wings, Mr. Hollister lent more than just his stature as a competitive running pioneer to the organization. His passion and legacy will forever linger in the hopes, dreams, and triumphs of Wings athletes. Thank you Geoff.

Aside from the race, trip highlights included visits to the St. Louis Science Center and the Gateway
arch.

For full race results

For more pictures from the trip, please visit the Wings of America page on facebook.



BACKGROUND:

Every year Wings of America (The Earth Circle Foundation, Inc.) sponsors a men and women’s team of Junior runners (ages 14-19, cannot turn 20 in 2012) from across Native America to compete at the USATF Cross Country Championships. The qualifier for the USA World Cross Country Team on alternating years, the Championships are held in February of each year. Wings created this opportunity to showcase the talents and positive achievements of American Indian youth and provide them with a cross-cultural learning experience. The program brings Native youth of varying backgrounds together to compete as a team in an elite field of both high school and college runners. Many program alumni have earned the attention of college coaches with their performance in this race. Wings runners have captured twenty-three national junior team titles since 1988.



Wings of America web site

"Run to the East" Documentary web site

Wings mission is to enhance the quality of life of American Indian youth. In partnership with Native communities, Wings uses running as a catalyst to empower American Indian and Alaska Native youth to take pride in themselves and their cultural identity, leading to increased self esteem, health and wellness, leadership and hope, balance and harmony.