Stephanie Williams

Williams chases lasting impressions

Stephanie Williams

By: David Cordill

Posted: 4/16/07

Swift on the cinders and sharp in the classroom, UMKC junior sprinter Stephanie Williams uses her father's inspiration and the faith he has instilled in her for motivation.

"Coming from the family he was brought up in, how he was treated as a kid - and how he wasn't as a kid - into what he has grown into now, he's a big influence in my life," Williams said. "His being a Christian, you know, always having that Christian influence on me, to always look to God ... not to put so much into myself but to ask God for help and be right there with God and stay close to him."

Williams takes the drive she gets from her faith and puts it to work for her in her studies: she is a double-major in psychology and criminal justice and plans for a post-graduate career in either criminal investigation or criminal psychology.

Williams said she was drawn into the field because of the inherent challenges it presents.

"I like to solve problems and figure things out," said Williams. "I thought that with criminal justice I could help people in different ways, whether it's to protect them from offenders or from themselves."

On the track, the quick-to-smile but unassuming Williams lives in the fast lane. Last year at the Mid-Continent Conference Track-and-Field Championship, Williams achieved all-conference honors with a third-place showing in the women's 200-meter dash and silver medal finishes as a component of the women's 4-by-100-meter and 4-by-400-meter relays. Williams also clocked in on top among UMKC women in the 400-meter dash, finishing with a time of 58.24. During the same year, Williams posted a time of 25.05 in the women's 200-meter, another Kangaroo best for the season.

In the brief, storm-plagued 2007 outdoor track-and-field season, Williams found early success at Emporia State University Spring Twilight Meet, anchoring the women's 4-by-100-meter relay team that placed third with a time of 48.61.

The 4-by-100 relay race is among her favorite events.

"You are being depended upon and being the anchor, you have to go run your hardest all the time and every time you have to be just perfect," Williams explained. "It's just such an adrenaline rush and it's my shortest event, so it [is] more fun than anything else."

More mentally taxing for Williams are the sprints of longer distances such as the 400-meter run.

"I admit, I want to quit," Willaims said. "I'm like 'This race is so long.' Then you get to the last part and you're like 'Get that person - or you try to stay in first.' It's a lot of conversation with myself."

Williams is looking to leave a lasting impression on UMKC Athletics during her collegiate career. Though the weather has diminished her opportunities this outdoor season, she is aiming for school records in the women's 200- and 400-meter dash.

"Our school record in the 200 is [24.56] and my personal record last year was a 25.0, and I haven't run the 200 yet [this season]," Williams said. "But I'm a lot stronger this year and I really would like to get that record. Our 400 record is [55.17] by Marcia Daniels, a former coach of ours. I'd really like to get that sometime before I leave."

dcordill@unews.com