Aliandrea “Ali” Upshaw (Diné) is a member of the University of New Mexico Track & Cross Country team. She is from Fort Defiance, Arizona and is born for the Charcoal-Streaked Red Running into Water clan. Although Ali is academically classified as a sophomore, she competes athletically as a freshman due to NCAA COVID-19 sports reclassifications. Her freshman season at UNM was cut short due to the pandemic but in her first full cross country season at UNM this past fall, she placed fifth at the Mountain West Conference Championships which earned her First Team All-Mountain West honors. The Lobos finished first in their conference for the 14th consecutive year and placed third at the NCAA Division I National Championships. Prior to signing with UNM, Ali was a high school standout at St. Michael Indian School on the Navajo Reservation– she was her class valedictorian and two-time individual state champion leading her team to a state title. She was named a high school “Runner of the Year” on three occasions by the Navajo Times and like many other Grounded Pod guests, she is an alumna of the Wings of America national team. Ali is currently majoring in Biology and minoring in Native American Studies, with the goal of attending medical school or pursuing veterinary medicine.

 

In this episode:

• Wings of America
• Grounded Pod Ep. 13 – Dustin Martin
• Grounded Pod Ep. 14 – Beth Wright
• Running Medicine (running group based in New Mexico)

 

Follow Ali Upshaw:

• Instagram: @ali.mae24

 

Follow Grounded Pod:

• Instagram: @groundedpod
• Twitter: @groundedpod
• Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

 

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Show music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).