Extra Effort: Elite track athlete Ali Ince also an elite student at Normal Community

NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — It’s hard for her to believe but Ali Ince is running to the finish line of her high school career.

“In a month it will be, not gone, but I won’t be able to experience it,” said Ince. “It’s awesome to have those memories but it’s a little sad knowing you can never do it again.”

Ince has been an elite athlete at Normal Community for four years. A standout in cross country, basketball and, of course, track.

The senior is one of the top 400 meter runners in the nation and is headed to Oregon for college track and field. Tuesday night, she was a part of two winning relays while earning victories in the 400-and-1600 meter races at the Intercity Track and Field Meet.

But she’s also an elite student. Ince is a straight-A student who was named recently named to the Illinois High School Association’s Academic all-state team.

“It was such an honor to be named to that team. So many awesome student-athletes on that team,” Ince said. “To be recognized not just for athletic talent but also the hard work you put in the classroom is really nice.”

Ince is in her second year as the NCHS treasurer of the student council, she’s an FCA huddle leader and part of her school’s I-Club demonstrating leadership as a varsity athlete.

She says all her extra-curricular activities have made her high school experience complete.

“I think it’s what makes up high school,” Ince said. “If it was just sports, it would not be high school. High school is all the people you are with, the clubs you do, all the things combined.”

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