Craig Curley

Tribe: Navajo

Sport: Running

Home town: Saint Michaels, AZ

Career:
Recent Performances
February 2011 – US Cross Country Championships – San Diego, CA – 12K – 36:59 (16th place)
February 2011 – NACAC Cross Country Championships – U.S. Team – 23:58.3 (6th place)
March 2011 – Mountain to Fountain 15k – 46:07 (4th place)
April 2011 – Sun Angel Track and Field Invitational 5000 meters – 14:11.63 (2nd place)
June 2011 – Portland Track Festival 5000 meters – 14:13.07 (5th place)

Overview

Represented Team USA and placed 6th in 2011 NACAC USA Cross Country Championships with a time of 23:58.3 (8,000k) on February 19, 2011. 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier (A standard) with 1:04:14 at the USA Half Marathon Championships in January 2010. In 2008, while competing for Pima Community College, Craig broke the 5000m school record previously held by Olympian Abdi Adirahman. His 14:23 continues to stand as the school best. As a prep standout, Craig won the Arizona State Cross Country Championship competing for Saint Michael High School in 2005. Currently, Craig is training for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials under the guidance of Coach Greg Wenneborg, who has competed in three Olympic Marathon Trials himself. Craig is active in the local Tucson road running community and in the Native American Community. Craig works with Nideiltihi Native Elite Runners (NNER) to promote the life benefits of running with Native American youth and volunteers’ time sharing his experiences on how to be successful.

Biography
Ya’at’eeh Shi Dine’ doo Shi K’ei. Shi ei Craig Curley yinishye. Kin[ich7i’nii (Red House People Clan) Nishlí. Kinyaa’1anii (Towering House Clan) Báshíshchíín. Kinlichee hoolyéédéé’ éí áyisíí naashá. Hello everyone. My name is Craig Curley. I am of the Red House People Clan and born for Towering House Clan. I am from Kinlichee, Arizona and currently reside in Tucson, Arizona. As a Native American growing up I was shown how to value life and cherish the world that surrounds me. Even though, this is a small part of the Native American Tradition and Culture the mindset can be applied to running. You run to care/cherish your body and in return you get the exercise that benefits you to live a healthy lifestyle. In addition, in the Tradition it says to pray in the morning when you run…however you can hear the complete sermon from a different source, but the teaching of the Tradition is there for youngsters to develop a sentimental connection to the natural world in hopes that the youngsters will learn to respect/value all the gifts of the world. I became a member of NNER in May, 2011 after consulting with the major influences in my life, namely, my family, friends, present and former coaches, and numerous teachers who have supported my goals and dreams in myriad ways since I began running competitively several years ago. These people have been unwavering sources of encouragement and guidance not only in my own life as I work toward competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials, but in the lives of the communities and people they serve. This alone has challenged me to support the endeavors and intentions of Native communities and Native youth with conviction, humility, and a deep-seeded awareness of the challenges Native people face in contemporary society. I would like to extend a heart-felt thanks to NNER for aiding in the pursuit of my athletic aims and efforts; my dream of competing in the Olympic Games would not have been alive today if it were not for their commitment to Native athletics and our youth.

Source: NDNS Sports