CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State Cross Country and Track & Field senior Nick Williams saw the 2020 Outdoor Track & Field season come to an abrupt end this spring during the COVID-19 pandemic, canceling a strong start to the Sapulpa, Oklahoma natives’ senior season.

At the time the NCAA canceled the season, Williams held the fifth fastest time in the nation in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase event and was on pace for an exciting spring semester under new Rogers State head coach Matt Kennedy.

“Nick’s outdoor season was off to an outstanding start,” said Kennedy. “He opened 21-seconds faster in the 3000m steeplechase than last season, running 9:39.42 in early March. Had the outdoor season not been canceled and with exciting opportunities to run fast at meets in Austin, Texas and Long Beach and Los Angeles, California, I am confident Nick would have broke his own school and personal record and qualified for the NCAA DII National Meet.”

With the opportunity to return for another attempt at his senior season granted by the NCAA, Williams has immediately set his sights on the 2021 outdoor season and another run at the 3,000-meter steeplechase national stage. Williams will also begin work on his Master’s Degree. He graduated this spring with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management with a Fitness Management Concentration. Williams was named to the Heartland Conference Honor Roll consistently and this season was named to the MIAA Cross Country and MIAA Track & Field Honor Roll.

“I am excited about having the opportunity to coach Nick for another year,” added Kennedy. “I believe his best running is yet to come. But more than that, Nick is a great teammate and will provide our young team with leadership by example. Coach Briggs and I are very excited about the future of Rogers State cross country and track & field.”

One of the most decorated cross country/ track & field runners in Rogers State history, Williams capped off his cross country career in the fall of 2019 with personal best times in the 8,000-meter and 10,000-meter races. He finished as the leading runner for the Hillcats in every race in 2019 and was the top runner in all but two races over the last two seasons. His career includes four all-conference honors and three conference runner of the week awards.

“To this point, we’ve signed 10 women and 12 men, almost doubling the roster size from 2019-20,” said Kennedy. “Ten of these athletes are coming to College Hill from Northeastern Oklahoma high schools and I have no doubt that Nick’s reputation from this area of the state had something to do with those numbers. We want the best athletes in Northeastern Oklahoma staying in state and coming to RSU. Nick came to RSU to run with great guys who had come before him and put RSU on the map. I am confident his leadership, experience, and commitment will lead others to do the same.”

Williams arrived on the Hill after running all four years at Sapulpa High School, where he was coached by his mother, Deb Williams, who ran cross country and track at the Division I level. While competing for the Hillcats, Williams also interns at his alma mater as an assistant coach for their track program.

During his time in Claremore, Williams has also spent a lot of time volunteering in the Claremore community, working mostly with the Catalayah Running Club to promote a healthy lifestyle and fitness to elementary school students.

To find out more information about Nick Williams, or any student-athlete at Rogers State, visit RSUhillcats.com or follow RSU Athletics on social media @RSUhillcats