by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
The top scoring runner for the rich legacy of North Dakota state boys’ cross country champions at New Town High School connects the team to family. Robert White, Jr. is Hidatsa from his mother Leslie and Arikara from his father Robert, Sr. The family lives in New Town, ND. Robert is a senior runner that is ranked number one in the NDHSAA Class B individual poll. The team will be competing in the NDHSAA Class B Cross Country Regional Meet on October 19, 2019 and in the State Meet on October 26 in Minot.
“A strong sense of family values is the cornerstone to the commitment I put into my team and my running,” said Robert. “Our family has a long history of championship runners, basketball players, boxers and tribal leaders on both my mother and fathers side. Family core values come from Arikara Scouts, State Championship family members and Tribal Chairman along with a long tradition of military service.”
“My parents and my coach Jay Hale have influenced me the most over the years on being the best student athlete I can be,” said Robert. “They stick with me through my worst and best times.”
“In my freshman year my team and I broke the 4×800 state record that was originally held for 20+ years by Standing Rock High School,” said Robert. “The team was combined of Jalen Chase, Chace Hale, Ryan Wheeling, and myself. After Chace Hale finished his leg of the race, he would hand the baton off to me and there was a foul flag that meant we would be disqualified during the hand off. This didn’t stop me or the next two legs after me. As a team we all came from families that raised us with high expectations and standards. Growing up like this was a huge factor that kept us going to finish what we started knowing that the outcome may lead to nothing. After we finished the race. They would replay the handoff and they come to the conclusion that it was clean and there would be no foul. This would be a great reminder that no matter how bad things may seem, there should be no reason why you should just give up.”
“I started my first year of cross country as a seventh grader,” said Robert. “I wouldn’t run my first varsity meets until the regional’s and the state meet. At the time I didn’t know that there was such a thing as a state Cross Country meet. So running the ninth race of the season, not knowing it was the state meet. I would place 41st out of 200+ runners. On the ride back from winning the 2014 State Class B Cross Country Championship, I would be upset with my performance as an individual. I made a goal for myself that the next year of cross country I would place in the top 20 of the state meet. On my journey to do this, I would train all winter, spring, and summer. It would consist of late nights of either lifting weights in the gym, running on my treadmill down stairs, and having to keep the right healthy diet to keep my body in shape while I was training. The Cross Country season would come around and it would be the time for the first meet. My times in practice were too slow to be able to help the team in meets due to putting on 20 pounds of muscle over the off season. Although my coach would keep me from running the first two meets because I was slow didn’t discourage me. It would just encourage me to keep working harder to help the team and become a varsity runner. About midway through the season a race would come around and I would place 2nd in a JV race against the best Class A teams in the state losing to a senior. I would show to my coach that I was able to perform at a high level of intensity. My coach would then realize what potential I have and put me in with the varsity team. Going into the state meet I was not ranked in the polls at all. Finishing the season out, I would help the team win the 2015 team state championship and individually place ninth in the state. I would accomplish my goal and do better than what the goal was originally by placing top 10. To me this is where my commitment to sports, family, school, everything that is involved with my life grew.”
“I have five team Cross Country championships and soon to add one more making it six, 15 all state place finishes in Cross Country and Track, 4×800 indoor and outdoor state track records, two state track and field Class B team titles, and I’m the most decorated athlete in New Town High School in varsity bars/position,” said Robert.
Robert White Sr. talked about his son: “Lil Rob is a hard working young man. I have seen him put many long hours in to trying to be the best person and runner he could be. He has sacrificed a lot of his free time as a teenager trying to make it to the next elite level of running. When most kids are out having fun he was running the hall or down stairs lifting weights.”
“Robert has been an outstanding runner, however I am more proud of his academic success,” said mom Leslie White. “He has been on the Honor role his whole high school career. Having an overall GPA of 3.5 being a good student is the true success of a student athlete.”
“It has been a pleasure to coach or just be a part of all those runner’s lives,” said Jay Hale, Asst. Coach of New Town High School Cross Country. “If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t have gotten to experience all the Championships those boys were a part of. They all have been coachable, respectful, driven and disciplined. They all came from good people, good parenting. It made our jobs as coaches real easy. They made us look good.”
Jay Hale said: “It’s been an honor to be part of Robert’s life for six years. Just to see his growth and development as a runner is something special. He never complained, always did what was asked of him. Very respectful. Very tough. Very strong. He is a part of a team that broke the North Dakota State 3200 meter relay record that stood for 20 plus years. This year he will be finishing his XC career on the same course that kicked off his career as a 7th grader. The Souris Valley Golf Course which is hosting the 2019 ND State Cross Country Meet on October 26th. He is the heavy favorite to win the individual state title and bring it back home where it belongs. His team is also the favorite to win its 8th consecutive and 17 total team State Championship.”
