Post by Okwes on Jul 26, 2006 9:33:14 GMT -5
NATIVE AMERICAN GAMES Record 2,000 vie in event named in honor of Lori
Piestewa
Jessica Coomes
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 22, 2006 12:00 AM
www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0722games0722.html
<http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0722games0722.html>
Percy Piestewa's voice shot across Fountain Park early Friday, pushing
each Native American runner who approached the finish line of the 5K
race.
"Good job! Good job! Keep going!" she repeated.
A record 2,000 American Indian athletes are in the northeast Valley this
weekend for the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games, an amateur
athletic event named for Percy Piestewa's youngest daughter.
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Army Pfc. Lori Piestewa, an athlete herself, in 2003 became the first
American Indian woman to die in combat for the U.S. on foreign soil. She
was killed in Iraq.
"Lori was very active," said her mother, who on Friday watched the
Games' first event in Fountain Hills. "She played every sport they had.
This was something that kept her going."
Until this year, the Olympic-style competitions were spread throughout
northern Arizona, from Tuba City to Page to Flagstaff.
The move to the Valley keeps the five events closer together, and this
year attracted about 700 more athletes than last year.
The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is hosting the Games, and events are
being played at venues in Fountain Hills and on the Salt River
Reservation.
"We're thankful so many kids are participating," Piestewa said. "There
are so many things they could be doing that aren't as positive."
Cross-country runner Jeanette Poolheco-Williams, 48, signed up for the
Native American Games for the first time this year.
Eleven years ago, she was out of shape, and her diabetes was getting
worse.
"I finally woke up and realized I need to conquer my diabetes and not
let my diabetes conquer me," said Poolheco-Williams, who lives in
Maricopa.
She started exercising to turn her life around.
Now, as a fitness trainer, she uses her own transformation as an example
for her clients in the Gila River Indian Community.
The fifth-annual Games bring athletes from across the nation, said Erik
Widmark, executive director of the Grand Canyon State Games, a Tempe
organization that coordinates the Native American Games and other
amateur athletic events.
Marvin Tolth of Crownpoint, N.M., saw the Games advertised in the Navajo
Times newspaper, and he signed up two of his children, 14-year-old
Tiffany and 16-year-old Brandon.
Tiffany finished the 5K race in about 22 minutes, which put her in
second place for her age group. "It's hot," she said after the race.
"(The heat) made me tired."
As she finished the early-morning race, the temperature was 99 degrees.
At the award ceremonies, Lori Piestewa's parents, Terry and Percy,
placed the medals around the winners' necks.
"Congratulations, kids, for a fine run this morning," Terry told one
group of winners. "Thank you for participating in the Lori Games," Percy
added.
The Piestewas brought their daughter's children, 6-year-old Carla and
8-year-old Brandon. The children stay active, Percy said, with tae kwon
do. Carla also takes ballet and gymnastics lessons.
The four now live in Flagstaff in a home built for them last year by
ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
Around her neck, Percy wears a gold necklace that has a picture of Lori,
her son and herself. On the back, it says, "We love you, Mom."
Piestewa
Jessica Coomes
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 22, 2006 12:00 AM
www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0722games0722.html
<http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0722games0722.html>
Percy Piestewa's voice shot across Fountain Park early Friday, pushing
each Native American runner who approached the finish line of the 5K
race.
"Good job! Good job! Keep going!" she repeated.
A record 2,000 American Indian athletes are in the northeast Valley this
weekend for the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games, an amateur
athletic event named for Percy Piestewa's youngest daughter.
[http://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gif]
<http://q.azcentral.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.azcentral.com/new\
s/articles/0722games0722.html/1056890967/ArticleFlex_1/OasDefault/sander\
son_ford_news/160x600_sanderson.jpg/35333433333364303434633332666430>
[http://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gif]
Army Pfc. Lori Piestewa, an athlete herself, in 2003 became the first
American Indian woman to die in combat for the U.S. on foreign soil. She
was killed in Iraq.
"Lori was very active," said her mother, who on Friday watched the
Games' first event in Fountain Hills. "She played every sport they had.
This was something that kept her going."
Until this year, the Olympic-style competitions were spread throughout
northern Arizona, from Tuba City to Page to Flagstaff.
The move to the Valley keeps the five events closer together, and this
year attracted about 700 more athletes than last year.
The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is hosting the Games, and events are
being played at venues in Fountain Hills and on the Salt River
Reservation.
"We're thankful so many kids are participating," Piestewa said. "There
are so many things they could be doing that aren't as positive."
Cross-country runner Jeanette Poolheco-Williams, 48, signed up for the
Native American Games for the first time this year.
Eleven years ago, she was out of shape, and her diabetes was getting
worse.
"I finally woke up and realized I need to conquer my diabetes and not
let my diabetes conquer me," said Poolheco-Williams, who lives in
Maricopa.
She started exercising to turn her life around.
Now, as a fitness trainer, she uses her own transformation as an example
for her clients in the Gila River Indian Community.
The fifth-annual Games bring athletes from across the nation, said Erik
Widmark, executive director of the Grand Canyon State Games, a Tempe
organization that coordinates the Native American Games and other
amateur athletic events.
Marvin Tolth of Crownpoint, N.M., saw the Games advertised in the Navajo
Times newspaper, and he signed up two of his children, 14-year-old
Tiffany and 16-year-old Brandon.
Tiffany finished the 5K race in about 22 minutes, which put her in
second place for her age group. "It's hot," she said after the race.
"(The heat) made me tired."
As she finished the early-morning race, the temperature was 99 degrees.
At the award ceremonies, Lori Piestewa's parents, Terry and Percy,
placed the medals around the winners' necks.
"Congratulations, kids, for a fine run this morning," Terry told one
group of winners. "Thank you for participating in the Lori Games," Percy
added.
The Piestewas brought their daughter's children, 6-year-old Carla and
8-year-old Brandon. The children stay active, Percy said, with tae kwon
do. Carla also takes ballet and gymnastics lessons.
The four now live in Flagstaff in a home built for them last year by
ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
Around her neck, Percy wears a gold necklace that has a picture of Lori,
her son and herself. On the back, it says, "We love you, Mom."