Up and coming Lennie Waite: Wanderer who's found the right track

Published on Saturday 23 May 2009 19:49

LENNIE WAITE'S childhood was nomadic, the itinerant career of her father requiring his family to pull up established roots on a regular basis while flipping homes more often than a manipulative MP.

Texas is now her settled base, where she is in her final year at Rice University. Outwardly, she appears the epitome of an All-American girl. Courtesy of being born in Paisley, however, she will soon make her formal athletics debut in Scottish colours. It is, she insists, neither a passport of convenience nor a hunt for a funding bounty. "I definitely sound American," she concedes. "But my culture is mixed. I was born in Scotland, so I guess that's home."

Having finished sixth in the American indoor university championships earlier this year, Waite – a middle-distance specialist – will walk, or rather run, into a Scotland squad. Born of English parents, she is no stranger to the land of her birth. "Friends of my folks still live in Scotland and my grandma is in England. My two sisters went to the University of Edinburgh so I used to visit them." Plus, despite departing in her infancy, other traits have lingered. "People always tell me that Scottish people are tougher and that I have the personality of a Scot," she laughs.

That would also include the familiarity with sporting despair, particularly when it comes to the so-called national game? Another box ticked on the nationality test there. "When I was younger, my dad used to take me to Rangers and Motherwell games. We went to the 1998 World Cup to see Scotland play Morocco. I painted my face with a Scottish flag and I really wanted to play for Scotland myself one day."

Watching Craig Brown's side lose 3-0, who wouldn't have fancied their chances? Waite, though, took her soccer seriously. When she first arrived at Rice, it was on a scholarship to play the game, her skills as a winger enough to earn free tuition in a degree in economics and psychology.

It was what she had always wanted to do yet the experience soured quickly. The set-up was claustrophobic, the experience of eating, sleeping and training alongside her team-mates proving dysfunctional. The university's running coach, who had spotted her potential, would come to her matches to persuade her to switch to the track. "You'd be a great distance runner," he'd say. Eventually, the decision became straightforward.

It took a while to make the adjustment to excelling without a ball at her feet. Cross-country was torturous, she confirms. "I didn't think I could run that far." Eventually, with the guidance of her mentor, Jim Bevin, it started to click. "Once I dedicated all my time to it, the times starting coming down quickly."

This academic year, the clock has stopped earlier still. Waite was named as her Conference's Indoor Athlete of the Year for making her mark at a national level. She even attained, officially, All-American status and set personal bests in the mile (4:41.69) and 3000 metres (9:16.90).

There is one final hurrah to come, the National Collegiate Athletic Association outdoor championship in June, the pinnacle of the US college stage and an event that has welcomed many Olympic champions onto its honour roll. Immediately afterward, she will jet eastward for the Scottish and UK Championships, both opportunities to push her name into the frame on the European circuit.

"I've spoken with my coach about trying to get the standard for this year's World Championships," she declares. "But it's been such a long season, I might need a break. I'm going to go to France and meet up with my parents then do a few smaller races to see how it all goes."

Once the summer is done, Houston will be calling. Waite has signed up to undertake a doctorate in psychology there, a chance to deepen her study while continuing her athletics career. Success on the track will mean more globetrotting. Then again, why break the habit now?

FACTFILE

NAME: Lennie Waite

DATE OF BIRTH: 04/02/86

AGE: 23

BORN: Paisley

KEY MOMENT: The biggest race was the Notre Dame cross-country in 2007. We won the team event, but until then I hadn't realised how big the Rice programme was. Or how good I was. I didn't think I could run that well or that we could beat as many ranked teams. Afterwards, I sat down and thought 'I'm better than I think I am. So I better take this seriously'.

INSPIRATION: My coach at Rice, Jim Bevin, believed in me so much. At the start, I couldn't run 40 minutes straight, but he told me I could do it.

ASPIRATION: I'd love to compete in the Commonwealth Games and maybe 2012. But I'll need to go even faster to start thinking about World Championships.