Barbers Hill runner signs letter with Lamar

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Barbers Hill runner signs letter with Lamar

By Michael Pineda

Baytown Sun

Published May 28, 2008

Jess Williams achieved a personal milestone Tuesday morning when he signed a letter of intent to run track and cross-country for Lamar University.

The Barbers Hill senior finished seventh in the 800-meter run at the Class 4A state track and field meet after a second-place finish in the Region III meet. He also was the District 21-4A cross-country champion.

“This is pretty special,†Williams said of signing with the Beaumont school. “I always thought I would have to walk on, so this is a big accomplishment for me. I wanted to stay closer to home and I had a gut feeling about Lamar. This is where I could go and excel.â€

Williams will join former teammates Aaron and Austin Malek, as well as Greg Williams of Crosby, on the team. He will join a team that placed ninth in the recent Southland Conference outdoor meet. Jess Williams achieved a personal milestone Tuesday morning when he signed a letter of intent to run track and cross-country for Lamar University.

The Barbers Hill senior finished seventh in the 800-meter run at the Class 4A state track and field meet after a second-place finish in the Region III meet. He also was the District 21-4A cross-country champion.

“This is pretty special,†Williams said of signing with the Beaumont school. “I always thought I would have to walk on, so this is a big accomplishment for me. I wanted to stay closer to home and I had a gut feeling about Lamar. This is where I could go and excel.â€

Williams will join former teammates Aaron and Austin Malek, as well as Greg Williams of Crosby, on the team. He will join a team that placed ninth in the recent Southland Conference outdoor meet.

“He is going to be fine at the college level,†Barbers Hill coach Dwayne Nunez said. “He has really worked hard to get to this point.â€

Williams is preparing for his collegiate career by competing with Track Houston, a USA Track and Field team.

He competed in his first meet for the team this past weekend and finished fourth in the 800-meter run and was a member of the first place 4x800-meter relay.

He competed in the 800-meter run for the first time this year and looks forward to improving in the event at Lamar.

“At first I was disappointed with how I finished at state, but the race was not something that I was used to,†Williams said. “I knew it was over for me in the last lap. I think that I can adjust to it, I have never been in that situation before, so it was a learning experience.â€

While at Lamar, Williams intends to pursue a degree in education by majoring in history and working toward a minor in kinesiology. He will begin next year by competing for the cross-country team, getting in shape for the track season.

“I’m excited that I get the opportunity to run cross-country, but I am more excited about track,†Williams said. “Cross-country will be about preparation for me.

“I am going to have to eat healthier and train harder, but I am still going to have fun. I’m not going to look at this like it is a job, but more as a hobby.â€

[Guest abovetherim]

Congratulations to Mr. Williams and his family.

[DP#1FAN]

Congrats!