Jalen Chase 'part of something pretty cool'

This is the second in a series about members of the Wings of America cross country team.

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

Jalen Chase works part time at SuperValu. It’s a grocery store in his hometown of New Town, N.D.

The 17-year-old high school junior works because he wants more out of life. He runs for the same reason.

“You really got to go out and work for things, they won’t just come to you,” Chase said with confidence.

Positioned in western North Dakota, New Town is located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Chase is Native American and from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation based in Montana. His family moved from the tiny town of Brockton, Mont., to New Town in 2008.

Life back on the reservation in Montana can be a struggle. Chase explained many do not finish school and low-wage jobs factor into the equation that result in lack of motivation to take the next step in life.

“It’s really tough. I wouldn’t know how to put it, to be honest,” he said.

Chase has continued to move forward, both with his running and representing his heritage. His next opportunity will be Feb. 4 at the USA Cross Country Championships in Bend, Ore., when he represents Wings of America in the junior men’s 8-kilometer race for the second year in a row.

Part 1 - Jordan Lesansee | USA XC Championships will be webcast on USATF.TV

He’ll be one of eight native male runners to compete for Wings of America, an organization based in Santa Fe, N.M., that improves the lives of American Indian youth using running as the catalyst. The unique, but familiar bond among the native runners is something Chase loves about Wings.

“I find it’s something I should be proud of everyday,” Chase said. “People find it pretty cool that I’m Native American, and they tell me all these stories about how good Native American runners are. I know that I’m part of something pretty cool.”

Chase credits his zest for life from his parents. His dad works in the oil fields and his mom does business for the tribe in New Town.

“Every day they motivate me,” Chase said.

Convinced by two friends in North Dakota, Chase started running in the fifth grade. The sport has been a catalyst and another major motivator forward in his life.

“I love running because you keep improving, you get better every day,” Chase said.

In New Town, Chase has continued to run. He opted not to play basketball this winter and has big goals this spring on the track.

“Running, it’s provided me with something to be doing every day, not just sitting around,” Chase said. “It gives me something I can get better at, and it’s provided me colleges looking at me and prepared me for the next step after high school.”

Chase has gained valuable experience by running on the New Town cross country team since the seventh grade, showing improvement each year. He captured his first individual state title Oct. 22, winning the Class B crown in 15:49.6, and followed that by placing 23rd at the NXN Heartland Regional Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D.  

“He’s just high energy level,” New Town cross country coach Brian Anderson said. “He really works hard. He knows how to dedicate himself. He’ll have days where he’ll go out and do a 12-mile run, and then the next day do a real strong interval workout. He knows what it takes.”

Chase has been part of five straight Class B state team championships, part of the Eagles’ impressive run of 11 titles in 13 years.

“I think it instills a sense of pride in them in what they are doing all the time,” Anderson said. “They want to get involved in that in the offseason.”

For Chase, running has turned into something he believes in to the fullest.

“My biggest improvement I would say is having teammates who are willing to bust their butt, and you get motivated by that,” he said.

When Chase represents Wings again in the junior men’s race next month in Oregon, he’s looking forward to hopefully producing a faster 8-kilometer time after finishing 22nd last year in 28:47. But he’s also excited about meeting other talented native athletes and working together as a team.

“He's great to work with,” Anderson said. “He knows what he needs to get done and just goes about and gets it done. He’s an excellent team member.”