"They came. They ran. And on Monday, they won the first gold medals of the North American Indigenous Games.

Team South Dakota joined 7,400 other athletes from across the United States and Canada as they began the first day of competitive sporting events at venues across the Denver metro area.

South Dakota runners Kyla Marshall and Jerad Weston both finished first in the girls' and boys', 13- to 14-year-old divisions, respectively. Teammate Trudell Slow Bear placed second.

�It feels good to be one of the fastest of all the tribes,� said Trudell. The 13-year-old is a cousin to 14-year-old Weston. Both boys live in Ogallala on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Youths, ages 13 to 18, kicked off the first of five days of competition in 16 sporting events. All medals will be awarded Friday. The cross country race was the only event where the winner is determined on the spot."

Get the Story:
Runners at indigenous games take home gold, pride (The Missoulian 7/4)

Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave

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