| Teddy Williams |
SAN ANTONIO ? When sophomore Teddy Williams was the first athlete to cross the finish line at last Saturday’s 60 meters final, he knew he had run one of the best races of his young career.
However, it wasn’t until he turned around and saw the scoreboard at Bill Yeoman Field House that he knew he had accomplished something special.
“After the prelims, Coach (David) Burnett and I talked about what I needed to do to better my race for the finals,” Williams said. “I felt like I got out of the blocks with a lot of power and then I started to realize I was pulling away from the pack. Once I crossed the finish line, I saw the reaction on Coach’s face and could tell I had run a good race. When I saw the time, I was shocked how fast it was.
“Every day it seems like I am finding out something new about it,” he continued. “At first, it was a mark that should get me to nationals. Then it was the top time in the conference this year and a school record. After that, I found out it was the third-fastest time in the country and I just found out earlier today that it was a conference record. I think it’s just the start because I am ready to get back on the track and do more.”
The mark of 6.66 not only was a Southland Conference and UTSA record, but it most-assuredly will earn the Tyler native a spot at March’s NCAA Championships. Williams said running a qualifying time this early in the season has many benefits.
“The first thing I thought was ?this is a great start to the year,’” he said. “My main goal of the weekend was to get a healthy race under my belt. I wanted to run relaxed and focus on what I needed to do to improve. Now that I have my 60 race together, I can focus on the 200 the next couple weeks, and work on improving in both races to get me ready for the conference meet.”
Williams was a solid performer in his first season as a Roadrunner, but an injury sustained during the SLC Indoor’s 60 meters final kept him from fulfilling his vast potential. He twice set the school’s 60 meters record ? first with a winning 6.74 at the Northern Arizona Team Challenge and again three weeks later during the league semifinals (6.71).
| Sophomore Teddy Williams is off to a great start in his second season as a Roadrunner. |
Despite dealing with the injury throughout the outdoor campaign, he earned NCAA Midwest All-Region honors as part of UTSA’s fifth-place 400-meter relay team. That quartet passed the baton in a season-best 40.12, which ranks second on the school’s all-time performance list. Williams placed eighth in the 100m and 200m at the SLC Outdoor and in the 60m and 200m at the league’s indoor meet.
Because of the frustrating end to his inaugural season, Williams was determined to come back stronger than ever this year.
“I really focused on getting my endurance up and keeping my body healthy,” he said. “I have been eating better because I know if you put bad things in your body, it will keep you from performing at your best. I also gave my body a lot of rest because it is such an important part of being successful. It recharges your body, just like when you plug in your cell phone at night.”
One of the most-talented athletes in the conference, Williams and his teammates are focused on winning their third consecutive indoor championship this winter. Williams was one of the younger athletes on the squad just a year ago, but he now has several meets of experience under his belt and is relishing his new role as a leader.
“Last year, I got so much experience because Coach (Aaron) Fox took me to all the big meets with the upperclassmen,” he said. “I looked up to Brandon Buteaux, Larry Brooks, Steven Brown, Cedric Harris and Will Vese for guidance and those guys taught me so much. Now I am trying to take what I learned from them and pass it along to this year’s newcomers.”