The finish line told only part of the story when Chujah Flute and his teammates won the 4×800-meter relay state championship. The medal mattered, but the people standing beside him made the moment something Flute will carry long after his racing days are over.
“My first 4×8 state win,” Flute said of the athletic memory he is most proud of. “I won with a team that felt like family.”
Flute, a junior at Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah, competes in cross country and track, sports that have taught him to see competition as something greater than individual times, places or accomplishments.
“This sport is bigger than us,” Flute said. “This sport will test you every day, but with the team and people, the test is the easiest in the world.”
That perspective was shaped in part by teammate Rylan Nofire, who helped Flute understand what competing at a high level required.
“Rylan Nofire led me in the journey in track and showed me what it took to win and showed me it wasn’t just running,” Flute said.
Winning, to Flute, requires more than wanting a result. One phrase has stayed with him and influenced the way he approaches both athletics and life.
“Winners take action,” Flute said. “I feel that is very true. You can’t win without taking that winning action.”
Flute has found people willing to challenge him and help him recognize his potential. He credits coach Sam Horsechief and his mother with playing important roles in his development.
“My coach Sam Horsechief and my mom, for both believing in me and allowing me to see what I could do,” Flute said.
His experiences away from competition have also given him opportunities to invest in others. Flute participates in the Summer Youth Program and helps with The Peaceful Warriors Way, a recovery coaching program. At school, Mr. Smith stands out as a teacher who made the classroom a place Flute could appreciate.
“Mr. Smith allowed me to enjoy my time in a classroom,” Flute said.
Perhaps the strongest connection running through Flute’s story is his appreciation for his people and culture. His favorite part of his hometown is not a particular building, restaurant or landmark. It is seeing the people around him and recognizing what their culture represents.
“My favorite thing about my town is seeing my people and what my culture means to others,” Flute said.
That connection also gives greater meaning to what happens when Flute steps onto the track. His first state championship was accomplished alongside teammates who became family, and his journey has been supported by people who saw his ability and encouraged him to see it for himself.
When asked if he did it for himself, Flute’s answer captured the purpose he carries beyond medals and finish lines.
“I did it for my people.”
