Alec White (Menominee): Like Father Like Son Pursuing Distance Running Potential

By Dan Ninham (Oneida)

Everyone has a hidden talent. We only know we had a hidden talent by bringing it out in some way. Or someone may bring it out for us.

Such is the case with Alec White, freshman at Shawano High School, Shawano, Wisconsin. Shawano is a border town south of the Menominee Nation.

“I am Alec White. I am Menominee and I am from Neopit, Wisconsin. My father’s name is Craig White and my mother’s name is Joleen White and they are Menominee. I am a non-fluent speaker of the Menominee language. However, one of my life goals is to become fluent in my language,” added Alec.

“I think that for only being a freshman, and the top runner on my team, I am trying to develop myself and step into a leadership role,” said Alec. “I want to take what I learn and help guide my teammates and my future teammates.” 

“As people of the wild rice, we value our children, elders, and each other, preserving our language, tradition, history, and culture,” said Alec. “In our culture, respect is valued and prioritized. I like to use those traits that have been passed down to me by my family to set an example and represent who I am, who my people are to my teammates and opponents.” 

“I have long-term and short-term goals involving athletics such as going to college, accomplishing state and conference championships, and setting school records. Athletics help me by giving me an incentive to achieve the grades I want and to get into my dream college,” added Alec. 

“Robert White is a non-relative and has positively influenced me by sharing his wisdom, expertise, and compassion with me,” said Alec. “He is often referenced to as ‘̈Father Time’. Robert is a mentor to me in various ways by informing me about statistics, competitors, boosting my confidence, and any relevant advice.”

“In my 7th grade track season, I participated in sprinting the entire season,” said Alec. “I never thought of running long distance until we did the mile in gym class. This was just a week before we had our last meet that was our conference meet. My coach and one of my teammates, who well deserved his spot for the 1600m at the conference meet, both let me run the mile. I ended up taking third and running a PR of 5:05. To this day, I still thank my one teammate and coach because of this run I was introduced to Cross Country and my passion for long distance running.”

Robert White said: “I went up after the conference meet, congratulated him, and told him who I was. This was our first meeting. Alec ran cross country in the fall of grade 8 as #1 runner on Shawano MS team in every meet on a good team that only lost one meet the entire season (to Stevens Point MS – one of the top five biggest schools in WI). He ran track in spring of grade 8 with a 1600 best time of 5:03 and won conference. Alec participated in Summer Run Club this past summer on a regular basis.”

“Alec has been the #1 runner on the Shawano High School CC varsity this fall as a freshman. He set his 5K best time of 17:14.8 at the Smiley Invite in Wausau.  This time is the fastest 9th grade 5K recorded at Shawano HS in the past decade, and maybe the fastest ever.  In the entire state of Wisconsin, Alec’s 17:14.8 ranks 9th best this year so far among 9th graders out of over 1,600 freshmen in Wisconsin High Schools,” added Robert.

“Alec is a quiet, smart, determined, and polite young man and a very good student,” said Robert.  “When I talk with him about running I can tell by the look in his eyes that he is absorbing everything I say while trying to figure out in what way he can use that information to make him a better runner and a better person.”

“He never seems rattled or nervous at either practices or in competition.  I have never seen him get mad.  He seems to know how his race is going to go before the gun is fired.  He goes out well, but usually not right with the guys at the front of the pack conserving energy for later on when the other competitors are getting tired.  He just seems to have developed this strategy for himself and uses it to perfection,” added Robert.

Robert said: “I think he is too young yet to realize what his athletic potential really is.  His parents are his biggest supporters and have provided a variety of activities outside of the school program to help him develop in many ways.  He is into yoga right now that will teach him how to relax while working on flexibility and body control.  He is a coach’s dream.”    

Dad Craig White said: “I am excited that Alec has found running. He has explosively risen to the top. He had a great deal of success in only two years of running.  Many of his short-term goals have been exceeded by far. His times, records and places finished are outstanding and only getting better. He is currently pursuing a few goals as a freshman like breaking 17:00 for a 3-mile run and competing at the Wisconsin State Cross Country Championships.  Long-term goals are winning both Conference and State titles in both Track and Cross Country that will help him secure a scholarship at a big college. Having Alec compete at such a high level is awesome.  As his father, I am constantly trying to help keep his mental focus, keep a positive outlook and staying humble.  It is kind of like being able to go back to my younger self and giving the best advice that I learned the hard way and that I wish I heard as a young runner. In addition, a plus is that he is not putting in hard work training. Alec also has a great coaching staff including a mentor Robert White (no relation) who has provided guidance and knowledge that has proven invaluable.”

The Wings of the Great Lakes were a regional section of the Wings of America Indian Youth Running Development program based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The regional program existed for 12 years with the Wings of America program going back to focus on the southwest. “Back in my high school running career, I did well at the conference and state level while running at Menominee Indian High School in Keshena.  I also ran as part of the Wings of the Great Lakes Cross Country team and completed at the TAC National Junior Cross Country Championships in Boston Massachusetts. I am fine with Alec using some of these achievements as family records to break,” added Craig.