SPORTS SPOTLIGHT: HENRY WILLIAMS
By Mike Tupa
Bartlesville Area Sports Report
HENRY WILLIAMS
When it comes to warriors of the dusty path, Henry Williams boasts one of the most powerful resumes in Bartlesville High cross country history.
During his four years on varsity (2013-16), Williams completed 35 of 36 5K runs in less than 18 minutes — a remarkable achievement of consistent excellence.
Williams broke the 17:00-minute barrier 22 times — and eclipsed 16 minutes seven times. In 2016 he rocketed to his high school career best of 15:06 and would finish second in the state meet while leading the Bruins to the state team championship.
Following an unsatisfying competitive running career at the University of Tulsa, Williams switched gears — to marathon running. It began during his post-graduate studies (Engineering Studies Ph.D.) at Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.).
To put it simply, Williams quickly conquered the longer distance — so much so that he qualified for the 2024 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trial in Florida. He turned in a qualifying time of 2:17:51 (at the Bakline’s McKirdy Micro Marathon back east) to punch his ticket to the Olympic trial. He was one of less than 200 runners to try to earn a spot representing the U.S. in the Olympic marathon.
Even though reportedly not a 100 percent physically going into the trial, Williams toughed it out and completed the run, finishing in less than 2:32.
Williams first discovered the joy of running when he and his twin brother Jack ran with their mother Stevie. At age 10, the brothers ran a 5K with their mom.
Williams became turned on to marathon running by his association at Cornell with an Italian long-distance runner. Williams progressed from a novice in the event to an Olympic trials qualifier in about a year or a little more.
The latest word to this author is Williams is focused on qualifying again for the 2028 U.S. trials. May his strides be smooth and strong, may injury be a stranger and may he infuse the power of a dream to the real-life determination to accomplish something special.