Juwan Nuvayokva, a member of the Hopi Tribe, has a storied career in the sports of Cross Country, Track and Field and Long Distance Running. He grew up in the Hopi Village of Oraivi located in Arizona. Oraivi dates back to 1150 A.D., with the claim of being the oldest, continuous, inhabitant village in the United States of America. Oraivi continues to have no running water and electricity. Juwan was able to solidify a career that comes from humble beginnings.

Nuvayokva grew up running in traditional races. Falling in love with the sport of running in high school, he became a six-time Arizona State Champion in Cross Country and Track & Field. He ran one of the fastest times in the state of Arizona in Cross Country during his time, a 14:56, running under Coach Rick Baker at Hopi High School. Hopi has won 27 consecutive state team titles, a national record.

He continued his running career at the NCAA Division 1 level at Northern Arizona University (1997-2002). Nuvayokva never looked back under Coach Mann’s guidance. As a Native American, he was one of the first athletes to be on four Cross Country Big Sky Championship Teams and four Big Sky Track & Field Championship Teams and he won the Big Sky 10,000 meter event in 2002.

Nuvayokva is honored to share that he accomplished obtaining one of the highest achievements and honors in NCAA Division 1 collegiate running, becoming an NCAA Division 1 All-American. With this honor, he ran in four NCAA Cross Country Championships, in which NAU made the podium in 2001, finishing in fourth place.

After college, he continued to run professionally for six years with a Saucony shoe contract. He competed in numerous races including the USA Half Marathon Championships. He also finished seventh overall in the 2012 Arizona Rock and Roll Marathon. He continues to serve as an assistant coach at his alma mater Hopi High School.