by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
For the 32nd consecutive year, Wings of America will sponsor a team of the fastest Native American runners to compete at the US Cross Country Championships. Eight young men and eight young women will be competing on January 18, 2020 in the junior age division race in San Diego, CA.
Wings team members attended a multi-day training camp in Albuquerque, NM between Christmas and New Year’s Day to supplement their knowledge of elite conditioning techniques and foster unity before traveling for competition.
Runners were selected for their Wings team based on their performance at post-season races including Nike Cross Regionals and Footlocker Regionals.
One of the Wings runners is Whitney James of Ganado High School in Arizona.
Yá’áh’tééh shí éí Whitney James yinishyé. Áshiihi nishłį, Tsi’naajinni bashishchiin, Honágháahnii dashicheii, Kinyaa’áanii dashinalí. (Hello, my name is Whitney James. I am Salt People Clan, born for the Black Streak People Clan, my maternal grandfather is One Who Walks Around People Clan, my paternal grandfather is Towering House People Clan.)
“My parents are William James Sr. and Reba Hubbard,” said Whitney James. “I am from Kinlichee, AZ. I go to Ganado High School in a small rural community and I am currently a sophomore.”
“Tribal core values define who are you are as a student athlete,” said Whitney. “Being raised, most of the values I have been taught are by my dad. The main thing he taught us was respect. Respect is given, it is not earned. We live in a world where education is important, it’s the road to a life. My dad has always encouraged us to learn our Diné language. Our native language is very sacred to us. My dad has always been my positive influence. From his positive influence, I am a straight A student, awarded with superintendent honor rolls, and ranked top of my class.”
“When my dad was younger, he would be out the door running early in the morning. He never joined the team, but he was a wrestler. Growing up, my family was never the running type. My older brother played football so basically that was the only sport my family knew. But I was fortunate to be the first runner in my family. I joined cross country and track my fifth-grade year. My dad chased me and my siblings out the door early in the morning at 5 am. He says, ‘running in the morning will make you tough mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We will be blessed with many good things by the Diyin Diné’é (The Holy People).’ This is why I run today,” added Whitney.
Mom and dad addressed the leadership abilities of their runner daughter: “Whitney has always been an excellent student earning straight A’s since kindergarten. She ran for princess at the elementary school where she received first runner up. She also joined the spelling bee in the elementary grades where she earned a certificate, medallion, and sweaters. She made it to the Navajo Nation spelling bee where she competed in Kayenta, Arizona. When Whitney entered fifth grade she expressed to her father and I that she wanted to begin running. Her father asked her if she was serious as she never ran before. We supported her decision. We were able to watch her first meet in Greasewood where she proved she has the love to run. She would start out last at the beginning of a race but make her way up to first place. Since that time, we have been able to follow and support Whitney while she runs. As a mother to Whitney I often wonder where and how she gained the interest in running. We as her parents and her siblings have not been athletic. We often encourage her to continue to run and to remember her traditional side. As Navajos we teach our children the importance of knowing who you are and to remember your teachings. I have observed her to always go above and beyond any goals she sets for herself, she expressed that she wants to become pediatrician one day. She will be our first child to go to a college/university. Whitney is very close to her father, she gets along with him because of the way he talks to her and teaches her our traditional life. As her mother, I am very proud of her. My house is decorated with all her medals and plaques. While she continues to surprise us, we pretend all that she has accomplished this far, she has taken us places that we have never been to. We look forward to following her to San Diego to support her and the Wings team as well.”
“I was a state champion my sixth-grade year and a state runner up in eighth grade year,” said Whitney. “My freshman year for state I ran both cross country and track. For track, I qualified for state for the 4x800m relay with my teammates. My sophomore year, I was one of the ‘Navajo Times All Stars’. And for track, I am striving to qualify for the 3200m, 1600m, and the 4x800m relay.”
Whitney’s coach at high school is Leandra Thomas. Coach Leandra said: “I’ve known Whitney since she was in middle school, and she was part of my cross-country team when I was the head middle school coach. I noticed her potential from the beginning of the season in middle school, to now at the high school level. She came to practice, although quiet, she completed every workout and never complained. She accepts the challenging workouts I provided her, because I knew she could do it. I push her past her comfort zone, and we began to see results. She’s a great student-athlete, and I’m proud of her accomplishments, and we look forward to more years to come, academically and in sports.”
“She did not hesitate to accept the challenge to try the Wings program and she’s pushing limits on her own by seeking opportunities, and for that she makes me proud and happy,” added Coach Leandra.
“Right now, I am doing my training based off the schedule Dustin has given us,” said Whitney. “I have been doing my long runs and speed workouts in the mud and snow. It is a challenge running in the snow because I drive my legs and try not to slide all over the place, but I know it will benefit me. My dad says, ‘no matter the weather conditions you go run. It will make you a faster runner.’ This is my first year being on the Wings team. It’s very exciting, and I’m nervous to run at nationals. But I am not only preparing myself physically but also mentally. I am happy to race and run with my teammates at San Diego. I am happy to represent all the Native Americans across the country, my people, and my family.”
“I think Whitney was really surprised to learn she made the Wings Team,” said Dustin Martin, Executive Director, Wings of America. “And during training camp, it showed a little that maybe she didn’t think of herself as quite the same caliber of runner as her teammates. But this changed in just a couple days. I hope Whitney spends these next few weeks building strength and reminding herself she can keep up with the best. No matter how she runs in San Diego, I’m hopeful she uses the experience to convince herself she can be one of the best girls in Arizona next year.”
Photo Credit: Shada Golden
