Anna White '24 Recruiting Profile

Anna White Track YouTube Playlist - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaRAZGufZp6-an7twvCuH-ZdDeCKhC0_C

Ever since I was a little kid, I have wanted to be a collegiate athlete. 

Growing up my parents owned a running store called Fleet Feet Sports, and they put on running races and training programs. I always spent time around these events and programs, and even participated in a kid's running program called Mini Milers.  One day when I was 5, I was at one of the races my parents were involved in and begged my Mom to let me run with her.  She agreed, and together we ran my first 5K! 

Since I was very active, adventurous, and climbed on everything my parents decided to put me in gymnastics. At first, I started with just recreational classes, but after a couple of weeks, I was recruited to the competitive team. I did gymnastics for about 6 years and got to a rising Level 9. I did 24 hours of gymnastics training in a typical week.  I even attended school at my gym for a period of time.

When I was 12 my family decided to move to Tucson, Arizona. During the change and adjustment, I decided that it was time to move on to something new. I always ran, even when I was a gymnast. But with limited opportunities to run with a team, I decided to swim competitively for a couple of years, and focused on butterfly and freestyle.  Eventually, I felt called to start running competitively. I began running cross country and track for my high school, and got involved with a local running club as well.  During my sophmore year of track I decided to do the 400, and I loved it. It was a lot different than I was used to, but I found a love for the faster speed in shorter races.

The first time I ran the 400, I ran a 1:13.  By halfway through the session, I dropped 8 seconds and started to learn how to race the 400. Unfortunately, I hurt my ankle (Playing soccer), and it ended my season. It took me a couple of months to recover, but once I got better, I made a decision to put all my focus on becoming a mid-distance runner.  I decided to start by focusing on the 400 for now, and increase distance as I get stronger, faster, and learn to hold the speed in my races.  I joined a Speed School, and have been driving 45 minutes across town three times a week to get specialized coaching in strength, agility, speed, and track specific skills.

I am confident in saying I have been working hard this year, and believe that I can go under 1:00 in the 400. I am a hard worker and I am not afraid of being pushed out of my comfort zone. I love when coaches push me, give me corrections, and tell me how I can be better.  I will always give it 110%, I have self-discipline, and I am committed to running in college.