University of Minnesota Athletics
Lauren Williams Takes Even Success In Stride
9/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
As the walk-on from Edina, Minn., embarks on her third year with the Golden Gophers, Williams is beginning the see the fruits of her labor. After a career-best performance in winning the Oz Memorial Run to start the season, she looking forward to bigger and better performances in her junior season at Minnesota.
Williams crossed the finish line with a smile at the Oz Memorial. Her effort seemed easy and relaxed but it's been a long road traveled to get to this point in her career. She's had to endure physical and personal challenges along the way.
Last year as a sophomore, Williams missed the championship portion of the cross country season because of tendonitis in her foot and two stress fractures.
"I had to take it really slow this summer and I didn't start training until the middle part of June," said Williams. "I trained about 10 miles less per week this summer then I did the last year.
"I was very optimistic coming into the season this year because of my injury last year and having to do rehab over the summer."
Making her comeback, two weeks ago in the Oz Memorial Run at the Les Bolstad Course, Williams helped the Gophers capture the win by finishing first with a time of 22:48.7. "I hoped to be in the top half of our team but I never expected to do this well," Williams said.
Williams gains motivation to fight through her injuries and the confidence she needed from her teammates, coach, and the person that has had the biggest impact on her life, her father. As a junior at Edina (MN) High School, Williams lost her father, Todd, to cancer.
"During a race, if I get tired or I am in any pain, I just think of the suffering my dad went through and I think that I will never experience that amount of pain," explains Williams. "He never showed the pain he was going through. My mom has also been a huge impact because of how strong she has been through all of this."
Her parents were one of the reasons why she chose to attend Minnesota. Williams wanted to be closer to her home and family. During her junior year of high school she looked at Wisconsin, Northwestern, and schools out in California, but after her father's death her focus was on the `U'.
"Being from Minnesota is seemed like a good choice for me," Williams added. "I received two academic scholarships and I really liked the balance between athletics and academics. When I did an official visit the girls on the team were very nice and Coach Wilson was great too."
Now as a Golden Gopher she is very successful on the cross country course and also excels in the classroom. A nutrition science major, Williams hopes to go on to medical school when finished with her degree. Last season, she was honored as an Academic All- Big Ten selection. She knows no other way of going about things than doing those things at 100 percent.
"Williams is very bright and very talented." Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson said. "She is just a tremendous kid and what you would want in a daughter. She never complains, always works hard and is such a wonderful person."
A successful athlete, a solid student and a great teammate . Lauren Williams is certainly the type of student-athlete that makes a school proud. For Lauren, this success hasn't come easily but perhaps it means more become the rough spots of life have had to be taken "in stride."
Written by Cathy Behr
Minnesota Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant University of Minnesota women's cross country runner Lauren Williams has been through a lot to say the least. But instead of giving up, she takes things in "stride" and only becomes stronger.
As the walk-on from Edina, Minn., embarks on her third year with the Golden Gophers, Williams is beginning the see the fruits of her labor. After a career-best performance in winning the Oz Memorial Run to start the season, she looking forward to bigger and better performances in her junior season at Minnesota.
Williams crossed the finish line with a smile at the Oz Memorial. Her effort seemed easy and relaxed but it's been a long road traveled to get to this point in her career. She's had to endure physical and personal challenges along the way.
Last year as a sophomore, Williams missed the championship portion of the cross country season because of tendonitis in her foot and two stress fractures.
"I had to take it really slow this summer and I didn't start training until the middle part of June," said Williams. "I trained about 10 miles less per week this summer then I did the last year.
"I was very optimistic coming into the season this year because of my injury last year and having to do rehab over the summer."
Making her comeback, two weeks ago in the Oz Memorial Run at the Les Bolstad Course, Williams helped the Gophers capture the win by finishing first with a time of 22:48.7. "I hoped to be in the top half of our team but I never expected to do this well," Williams said.
Williams gains motivation to fight through her injuries and the confidence she needed from her teammates, coach, and the person that has had the biggest impact on her life, her father. As a junior at Edina (MN) High School, Williams lost her father, Todd, to cancer.
"During a race, if I get tired or I am in any pain, I just think of the suffering my dad went through and I think that I will never experience that amount of pain," explains Williams. "He never showed the pain he was going through. My mom has also been a huge impact because of how strong she has been through all of this."
Her parents were one of the reasons why she chose to attend Minnesota. Williams wanted to be closer to her home and family. During her junior year of high school she looked at Wisconsin, Northwestern, and schools out in California, but after her father's death her focus was on the `U'.
"Being from Minnesota is seemed like a good choice for me," Williams added. "I received two academic scholarships and I really liked the balance between athletics and academics. When I did an official visit the girls on the team were very nice and Coach Wilson was great too."
Now as a Golden Gopher she is very successful on the cross country course and also excels in the classroom. A nutrition science major, Williams hopes to go on to medical school when finished with her degree. Last season, she was honored as an Academic All- Big Ten selection. She knows no other way of going about things than doing those things at 100 percent.
"Williams is very bright and very talented." Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson said. "She is just a tremendous kid and what you would want in a daughter. She never complains, always works hard and is such a wonderful person."
A successful athlete, a solid student and a great teammate . Lauren Williams is certainly the type of student-athlete that makes a school proud. For Lauren, this success hasn't come easily but perhaps it means more become the rough spots of life have had to be taken "in stride."
Written by Cathy Behr
Minnesota Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
Players Mentioned
