A DEGREE course and two life-threatening illnesses have failed to stop a young Sanquhar athlete from achieving his vision
to run for his country in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Eighteen-year-old Fraser White’s racing career was heading for outstanding success in 2013.
The former Sanquhar Academy pupil was officially crowned the fastest boy in Scotland when he broke his own 800m record, at a second over two minutes, at the Nithsdale Open Meeting at the David Keswick Centre in Dumfries that year.
This gave him eighth place in the Scottish junior all-time ranking for an under-15 athlete and the Nith Valley AC’s fastest time for an under 15 boy in nine years.
Subsequent wins came swiftly when he brought home the Derek McLean Memorial Trophy for 15-year-old boys at the EEHLC Stadium in Glasgow, and won silver at the Track and Field Championships at the Wishaw Sports Stadium, representing the West of Scotland Inter-Regionals 800m under-16s.
Twenty thirteen also gave him victory at the Scottish National Schools Championship at Grangemouth Stadium when he qualified with the fastest time in the U15s 800 metres at two minutes and four seconds.
It was in early 2014 when his first disaster struck and Fraser contracted viral meningitis which demanded a long recovery time.
A few months off the track and he was back in form, winning the 400m Scottish Schools Championships at Hampden Park in June that year.
Then, in the early months of this year, Fraser was again laid up in hospital, this time with a burst appendix, and a long recovery ensued.
He said: “I had to have a major operation that put me in hospital for two weeks. I couldn’t start running again until June and have been playing catch-up ever since.”
And Fraser’s idea of “catch-up” took the form of a first place in the 800m heats of the Scottish Freshers Meeting at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow three weeks ago.
“This was my first race back,” he said, “I won the heat in an OK time and things are starting to look good again.”
Fraser began his running career at the age of 13 and starting off as a member of the Nith Valley AC, he joined Edinburgh AC at age 15.
“I didn’t start running until late, in comparison to other athletes,” he explained.
“Like every teenage boy around here, football was my passion then and I didn’t take running very seriously until I won the Scottish Field Championships at Grangemouth.
“That was the first ever time I realised I could be quite good at running.
“My head teacher then, Mrs Barbour, was very supportive and spurred me on to take running a bit more seriously.
“I joined the Nith Valley AC and ran with coach Willie MacIntosh for the first year.
“When he retired, I moved on to Dave Hood and that’s when things started to get a bit more serious.
“Under his guidance, I went on to the Scottish Championships as a favourite to win; and I did.”
Fraser admits the road to the top of a successful racing career is not an easy one. Most athletes retire around the age of 28, after running their way to the top of the various age groups.
Athletes who find themselves at the apex of their group will find themselves racing against fitter, more experienced runners when they reach the next age level.
“When I joined the over-14s, it was a bit of a culture shock. The older boys seemed much stronger than me but I trained well and soon managed to start winning.”
Fraser says that having a good coach is very important.
“A coach can make or break an athlete,” he said. “I have been very lucky with my coaches.
“Up until now, I’ve been sensible with my training. My coaches have always trained me quite light, which is very sensible.
“Since my operation, though, I’ve decided this is the time to go for it and I am now training every day.
I’m hoping to get into a good winter and push the seniors in competition. I’ll keep training and see how the body takes it. I want to be up amongst the top seniors competing for gold at the Scottish Championships.
Although Fraser admits his high speed base is congenital, he is realistic about life.
He is currently studying for a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Edinburgh University and hopes to join a scholarship programme to a university on America’s west coast in order to complete his studies and also to continue training.
“I definitely want to try for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast,” he said.
“I feel I have run some good solid times and am ready now to take it to the next level.”
Dad Neal, who lives in Sanquhar, says the family are very proud of Fraser and his amazing achievements on the track so far.
“We’re a bit apprehensive about the start of a new year,” he said. “For the past two years, Fraser’s been in hospital with very serious health problems.
“We’re thinking of wrapping him in a lot of cotton wool this time, but know he’ll never allow that!
“Seriously, the family just hope the best for him. He’s a smart lad and a very good athlete. We’re all really proud of him.”
Story supplied by The Nithsdale Times
