TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Mitchell Runner Looking To Duplicate Success At Regional Meet

ADVERTISEMENT

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: November 15, 2008

TRINITY - She may be relatively new among area running circles, but Mitchell High sophomore Kelli Williams is quickly making a name for herself as one of the best female cross country athletes around.

Last Saturday, the first-year distance runner stunned most observers by snatching the Class 4A-District 4 title away from favorite Katherine McMeekin, an experienced senior from East Lake High.

"At the very end I was in third with about 800 meters to go and somehow I just found it inside," Williams said, admitting she surprised herself with her big finish. "I found it pretty easy just to get up there and hold it to the end. I wasn't expecting it, but it was there."

The sophomore's next opportunity to sneak up on her competition comes today, Saturday, during Mitchell's Region 4A-2 meet in Winter Haven at Polk Community College.

Mustangs Coach Jeff Leavey said that while Williams' pure, natural speed and talent were apparent at first glance, she has swiftly made strides in becoming a more complete distance runner since the season's onset.

"There's been improvement across the board," said Jim Masterson, an assistant coach. "She's finishing a lot better now."

Williams said she first began to notice her fleetness in middle school, but was then preoccupied with another demanding activity: horseback riding. Her passion for running began to take grip freshman year when she joined the Mitchell track team with sights set on sprint-distance events, not yet being aware of her long-course prowess.

"I tried out for cross country this year pretty much just to keep fit for track and found that I'm probably a distance runner instead," Williams said.

Running has fully supplanted horseback riding as the principal focus for Williams' young athletic career. "I don't even ride anymore because of running," she added. "I eat, sleep and run. That's it."

Williams' best time so far this season was a 19:46 the weekend before districts. Breaking the 20-minute mark was one of a number of goals she set early in the year that have now been reached - another being a first-place finish somewhere throughout the season.

"I didn't think it was possible to do this year just because there are more experienced girls," Williams said, mentioning that after her first race she wasn't positive either goal would be within her grasp this season. "Now, I just want to make it to states."

To aid her along the way, Williams credits her tight-knit bond with teammates and coaches as keys to her achievements. "These guys, they're my family right now - all year round," she said. "When it's not cross country season, it's track."

"Coach Leavey has to be one of my biggest inspirations along with my mom; she's a runner, too. But these guys and girls out here, they're all my best friends."

As for Williams on the course, Leavey and Masterson said the best is most likely yet to come from the sophomore still learning the specifics of long-distance running.

"She's learned how to develop her speed and she's stretched it out," Leavey said. "That's why she's blooming now. It's a process."

Williams said the last half mile is her greatest strength. "It's where I find all my energy, I don't know why," she said.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT