Some of the state's top female and male distance runners and schools will compete in the 3A North Regional Cross-Country Championship this Saturday in Fort Defiance, hosted by the Window Rock Fighting Scouts.

In addition, the area's NAIC middle school / junior high school cross-country championship will be held prior to the 3A North Regional Cross-Country Championship this Saturday.

Window Rock Athletic Director Ryan Dodson said each sport that the 3A North schools participate in have a regional tournament / meet that reward the hard work of the student / athletes.

"The 3A North Regional Cross-Country Meet is an opportunity for the regional teams to compete against one another and earn accolades in preparation for the Sectional and State Meet," Dodson explained.

Dodson said it is an honor for Window Rock Unified School District to host this year's regional cross-country championship.

"Window Rock is excited to host the 3A North (Regional Cross-Country) Championship and the NAIC Championships on the same day," Dodson said. "It is a chance for middle school / junior high school and high school programs to shine."

Dodson said Window Rock's Athletic Department is excited to host a quality meet.

"We have the facilities to host this event and it has been a great planning process to get the meet in Fort Defiance," he said. "We are excited to have an official timer on board and our district departments are also excited to see this event here in Fort Defiance."

Girl's and boy's 3A North Region schools participating are Ganado, Chinle, Kayenta Monument Valley, Tuba City, Page and host Window Rock.

All girl's and boy's schools advance to November 2 Division III, Sectional Cross-Country Championship at Hidden Cove Golf Course in Holbrook.

The Division III Cross-Country State Championship is scheduled for November 10 at Cave Creek Golf Course in northwest Phoenix.

Time schedule for the NAIC and 3A North Regional Cross-Country Championship has been set.

The Middle School girl's race begins at 10 a.m., followed by the Middle School boy's race at 10:30 a.m.

The high school girl's race is set for 11 a.m. and the high school boy's race is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

The awards program will be held at 12 p.m. The top 20 finishers in the girl's and boy's high school championship race will receive a custom 3A North Cross-Country Championship medal.

"A championship trophy is recycled through each cross-country season," Dodson said. "The (girl's and boy's) winner's from last year will return the trophy. The winner will take the trophy home for the year and bring it back the following year."

Window Rock head cross-country coach Ramsey Davidson said the Fighting Scouts are looking forward to the regional championship.

"The girl's and boy's are ready for the regional championship," Davidson said. "All our runners are healthy and they are eligible."

Davidson said all the runners have to stick together as a team and not try to spread out. He said all the runners have to eliminate wide gaps between each other.

Davidson said participating in the girl's race are Bayle Talkalai, Quannah Benallie, Mikayla Curley, Kahlea Moore, Kailey Curley, Jaymill Sanders and Melisha Nez.

He pointed out the boy's competing for the Fighting Scouts include Josh LaFontaine, Trey Duncan, Leander Charley, Jason Nelson, Shawndre Watchman, Derian Long and Hunter Arviso.