2011 & 2012 Letterman
Most Improved over a Career #21 with 4:19 improvement.
2009 Personal Best Time 21:55
2010 Personal Best Time 20:05
2011 Personal Best Time 19:25
2012 Personal Best Time 23:24 (22:49*)
2010 Most Improved Runner Award
2011 & 2012 Scholar/Athlete
Fastest Top 10 Freshman List for the Metamora Invitational.
Fastest Top 10 Sophomore List for the Metamora Invitational.
2009 News-Gazette Prep Cross Country Leaders List in September & October.
2010 News-Gazette Prep Cross Country Leaders List in November.
2012 News-Gazette Prep Cross Country Leaders List in September.
John is a forth
year high school cross country runner and two year letterman.
Son of John and Carolyn Williams.
As a sophomore, John opened up the season with a major lifetime personal best of 20:45. This was a 1:10 improvement from his season best as a freshman. This was the largest improvement of anyone on our entire team. John bumped onto our team's most improved career list by improving over 3 minutes from his first race of his career to his fastest 3 mile time. John had another big drop in time at the U-High Invitational where he ran a lifetime best of 20:05. John earned the #23 spot on our most improved over a career with with a 3:49 career improvement. John ran fast enough to earn a spot on our fastest top 10 sophomore list for the Metamora Invitational. John won our 2010 most improved runner award. He earned his way onto the News-Gazette Prep Cross Country Leaders List in November.
As a junior, John opened the season with a time of 21:58 in the extreme heat. From the first practices of his junior year, John stepped up as one of the vocal leaders of the team. He often could quickly inspire his teammates to run better by a few encouraging words. John earned high enough grades last year to earn an academic letter. This helped him earn the team award of scholar/athlete. At the Peoria Notre Dame meet, John cut off major time to run 20:27. At the East Peoria Invitational, John ran a lifetime best of 20:03 just narrowly missing the 19s. John ran a major personal best at the U-High invitational with a 19:25. He went on to run another 19's at the Metamora invitational where he earned enough letter points to earn his varsity letter. John ended his junior year with another solid effort at Conference where he ran in the 19's again despite the fierce wind. John ended the year as #21 on the team's most improved over a career list with an improvement of 4:19.
As a senior, John came into the season with lots of experience. He quickly took over a leadership role being one of our four seniors. His teammates look up to him for his effort, positive attitude, and his caring about his team. John opened up the season by running a 23:45 at the Charleston Invitational. He helped his team win the open race. John earned a spot on the News-Gazette's prep cross country leader list in September. John went on to run a season best on the more challenging Springfield Invitational course with a time of 23:24. He helped his team win the open race for the 2nd year in a row. John earned a spot on our team's scholar/athlete list due to his dedication to his studies his junior year. John finished his season at the East Peoria Invitational with a 22:49 which was a 35 second season personal best. It was a great way for John to end a 7 year cross country career. Not too many athletes stick with a sport from start to finish. It is a tribute to his dedication as a person.