Nov. 1, 2006

Commerce, Texas

There are some student-athletes that find success playing sports at the high school level. However, very few of those student-athletes are able to translate those past achievements into success at the college level. Niki Williams has proven to be an exception to the rule in her career as a runner on the A&M-Commerce cross country team.

Williams, a senior political science major from Fayetteville, Arkansas, has been a devoted and successful runner for the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions over the last four years.

Heading into the NCAA South Central Regional this weekend, Williams has run in all 22 cross country meets the team has competed in over the course of her career. In those 22 meets, she has been the top finisher for the Lions in 16 times. In addition to being the top team finisher, Williams has finished in the top-20 in 13 of the 22 races in which she has competed.

She attributes her collegiate success to the guidance and encouragement she receives from Head Cross Country/Track and Field Coach Pat Ponder. "Coach Ponder has helped me a lot, because he really believes in all of us, and encourages me to do better, so that I can be one of the top-15 or 20 finishers. He lets me know in practice what times I need to get to have a top time, so when I am running in meets, I see the times, and I know I can do it, because I have done it in practice."

Williams points out that there is a major difference between high school and college cross country. "In high school, I had more of the team mentality, and tried to keep up with the team when we all ran in meets. In college, you have to push yourself to do what you hope to do, and you have to be more independent."

Each season, the women's cross country team runs in a variety of different 5k and 6k races.

Of the 6k races that the Lions have run, Williams 6k season-best time in each of the past three years has come at the Lone Star Conference Championships. In the 5k races that Williams has participated in, her season-best times have been in races held in the month of October, with the exception being in 2005.

Williams heads into this weekend's regional meet having finished in the top 60 each of the past three years, with her best finish coming at the 2004 NCAA South Central Regional, with a 36th-place finish.

Reflecting on her senior cross country season, Williams said, "The team has done really well, it is great way to go out my senior season, as a team captain, knowing the season we had. The new freshmen that we have on the team have been great influences on the rest of the team, and it has been obvious in the way that the team inspires and encourages each other. Personally, I would like to go out with a strong finish, and all around good memories."

It is often difficult to balance athletic, and academic responsibilities, and even more difficult to find a good balance when you are involved with any student organizations. Williams is able to balance these well, and felt that other student-athletes should know the secret that has helped her balance her multitude of responsibilities. "If you're an athlete, you are competitive by nature. Athletes need to transfer some of the competitive nature to academics. Overall, try to bring the competitive nature in all that you do with school, and by getting involved."

For Williams, she has to balance classes that go with being a political science major, her responsibilities as a team captain, and being one of the two vice presidents in the A&M-Commerce Student Government Association.

Looking back on a successful and accomplished college career, Williams has noticed many ways in which she has grown as runner, and a leader. "I am more devoted to running, and I also have an increased dedication to helping myself and the team develop, and making all of us better."

When asked, Coach Ponder mentioned how Williams' willingness to lead and her competitive nature have led to success. "She is a very solid, an all-around leader, who leads by example, and has become a very talented runner."

After graduation, Williams plans on being part of the Peace Corps for two years, and then plans to attend graduate school. When asked if she had thought about coaching, she said, "I might coach down the road, but it will be a while. Since I am a political science major, I would like to get involved with politics in some way."

The Lions, who had last weekend off, will return to the course this weekend when they travel to Warrensburg, Missouri, to compete at the NCAA South Central Regionals.