Lesansee bridges two cultures through running

Wings of America empowers Native runners to unite, thrive

Editor's Note: This story about Albuquerque Academy's Jordan Lesansee is the first in a series about the Wings of America, an organization that offers opportunites for young Native American runners to compete and embrace their heritage

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

In New Mexico, one foot in front of the other, Jordan Lesansee runs with a greater purpose than many of his peers.

The 17-year-old senior is not only representing Albuquerque Academy, but his entire Native American heritage.  

“Jordan is prideful,” Albuquerque Academy cross country and track coach Adam Kedge said with conviction. “He has one of the smoothest, softest strides I’ve ever seen. His feet, it almost appears like they don’t touch the ground.”

Lesansee is Zuni and Jemez Pueblo, with ancestry from both tribes. He’s also a four-year member of Wings of America, an organization based in Santa Fe that improves the lives of American Indian youth, using running as the catalyst.

Founded in 1988, Wings of America provides Native youth a platform to express their identity through distance running.

“By familiarizing Native youth with a proud tradition of distance running that has been maintained in Indian Country for time immemorial, we foster a new generation of champions to keep the spirit alive,” program director Dustin Martin explained. “Whether our participants are destined for a competitive career in the sport or just learning the joys of bipedal locomotion, Wings works to provide them insight into the healthiest ways to curate their journey.”

High school runners from all over the nation have the chance to qualify for the Wings of America National Team at any Foot Locker, Nike Cross Regional race or the NB3 FIT National Cross Country Race, held in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M.

A staple for Wings is the USA Cross Country Championships, which returns to Bend, Ore. in February. Wings sponsors a team of eight male and female runners to represent Native America in the Junior men’s and women’s races.

“All the members are Native American and represent their tribes and all native people,” Lesansee said. “When you put on that jersey, it makes it special.”

Wings has given Lesansee the opportunity to express his identity on a national level.

He comes from a running family. He’s the youngest of five boys, all who ran for Kedge, but it took Lesansee until almost high school to fully embrace running. Now, it’s a part of him.

“I just want to represent my native communities and serve as a positive role model for youth and younger kids,” he said.

Lesansee and his family do not live on the reservation, as he said the schooling is better in Albuquerque. Kedge said most of the student population hails from the metropolitan area, and there are not a lot of Native Americans. But his family tries to participate in the traditions and dances as much as possible to keep their cultural identity alive, something Lesansee’s parents have instilled in him and his brothers.

“It’s important to key around grandparents and elders and to remember where you come from,” Lesansee said. “I’ve learned to appreciate the simple things in life.”

Lesansee said he does not speak either of the tribal languages that his ancestors spoke, but he would like to. The language in Jemez is Towa. The other is Zuni. 

"Language preservation is a major challenge that we face," Lesansee said.  "Sadly, I'm not fluent in either language, but I am learning so that I can one day be fluent."

Although it can be a difficult balancing act between the two cultures, running has provided Lesansee the unique opportunity to blend the two.

“First and foremost, he’s a strong family member,” Kedge said. “He really feels like he’s kind of carrying the torch. He is a strong Christian boy, he kind of views himself as a representative of a lot of the Native American community here in New Mexico, and it’s neat to see.”

Kedge, who has known Lesansee since sixth grade, said he started to transition into a strong distance runner around age 14.

“He doesn't overthink things as far as running,” Kedge said. “He goes out and gives it 100 percent and lets the performance speak for itself. He’s not worried about what place he's going to get."

Lesansee won the Class 5A state championship Nov. 5 in 15 minutes, 29.15 seconds, also leading his team to a second consecutive title. He went on to place sixth at the Nike Southwest Regional race in 15:22 and qualified for NXN in Oregon, placing in the top 50.

He said going into his fourth year for Wings, where they are running an 8-kilometer race instead of the usual high school 5-kilometer distance, he feels stronger and more experienced. Heading into the USATF Cross Country Championships on Feb. 4, he has goals of finishing in the top six and earning a spot at the IAAF World Championships, scheduled for March 26 in Uganda.

Although a strong finish would be a nice conclusion to Lesansee’s high school cross country career, it’s been the individuals who have been the highlight for him in past Wings experiences.

Martin explained they do not have the budget to hold a training camp or get most of the student-athletes together before heading to Oregon. Most of the runners meet face to face just a few days before they all run together. But it’s the shared heritage that connects them instantaneously.

“I don’t know any kid who made the league national team who didn’t know who Billy Mills was,” said Martin, referring to the great Native American distance runner who won gold in dramatic fashion in the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Olympics.

“We continue to tell that story and inspire those kids and lesser known distance runners who have done amazing things for our native people.”

Martin, who also ran for Kedge and Wings, said it’s a whole different world now in competitive distance running. Wings and athletes like Lesansee have helped spread the awareness of Native Americans.

“Too many times, native Americas are an overlooked demographic, like in North Dakota at the Pipeline,” Lesansee said. “It’s sad that’s happening. To create more awareness, it’s good.”

One foot in front of the other, Lesansee is hoping he can continue to make a difference.

“There’s a lot of talent in the native communities,” he said. “I hope I can influence and inspire native youth to pursue goals and dreams.”