Williams named All-American at Carroll

He was one of the best runners in Columbia Falls High School history. Now he’s making his mark in the college ranks.

Derrick Williams recently was named an All-American runner for the Carroll College Saints in Helena, taking third in the mile at the NAIA National Indoor Track Championships on March 2 with a time of 4:12.55. He was also part of the Carroll team that took second in the men’s distance medley relay with a time of 9:58.08.

The top eight placers at nationals receive all-American status. Williams said he’s having a lot of fun running for the Saints.

“I have really good support from my coaches and parents,” he said last week. “They all believe I can go fast. This proves to me that I can go just as fast as they say I can.”

Williams said he made a freshman mistake in the mile by starting his kick in the last 400 meters because he was worried about getting boxed in.

“But I tied up pretty hard in the last 50 meters,” he said.

The distance medley has legs of 1,200, 400, 800 and 1,600 meters.

He said the goal is run sub 4-minute mile by the end of his college career. He trains just about every day of the week, running 50 to 55 miles with teammates, as well as lifting weights three times a week.

There’s no sleeping in on most days. Even on Sundays they hit the pavement at 7:30 a.m. to run.

Williams is a vegetarian and has been for about three years now. He says he really has to watch his diet to make sure he’s getting enough protein and other nutrients. He’s majoring in biochemistry and was home last week on spring break. But there’s not much break from running.

The team had two days off between the indoor season and the outdoor season, which starts this spring. Williams said he’ll red shirt for the spring season.