Teammates, coaches and friends gather Thursday for candlelight
vigil to honor track star
Last spring, Sam Williams made the Division II All-American team in the 200 meters at the NCAA Championships. After the race, Williams took his award and gave it to Emporia State sprints’ coach John David Harris, who was coaching his final race.
“I said, ‘Sam, you don’t have to do that. You earned this award. You take it. You keep it,’” Harris said. “He was just very grateful, and I was just a provider of some workouts. He did everything, and here he is showing his gratitude towards me.”
Harris was one of about 500 people who gathered at Welch Stadium on Thursday night for a candlelight vigil to remember Williams, who died on Sunday in a motorcycle accident north of Emporia. The body of Williams, 24, was found by a sheriff’s deputy on Wednesday.
ESU track and field coach Dave Harris addressed the crowd and talked about how Williams loved speed, and his accident was “just an accident from speed.”
Williams was from Ivory Coast in western Africa and joined the ESU track team in January.
John David Harris told the story of when Williams showed up in his office last fall and asked to join the team. He said Williams told the coaches he could run the 100 meters in 10.3 seconds.
“When you hear someone say they can run a 10.3 in the 100, you kind of laugh it off,” Harris said. “But the first day of practice, we’re down here and we’re doing some sprints and I could see him take about three steps, and I looked over at the other coaches and just smiled, and right away I knew he could run 10.3.”
Dave Harris said Williams was the best walk-on Emporia State has ever had and ever will have. He quickly became an integral part of the ESU team last spring.
Williams anchored the 400-meter relay team that broke the school record in 40.01 seconds. Derwin Hall, who was on the relay team with Williams, said that the team would gather before every race in the middle of the track to pray and get pumped up, which was one of Williams’ favorite moments every race.
“Sam’s favorite was when we got rowdy, to let everybody know that we were ready to run,” Hall said. “So I’m sure for his honor, we’ll continue to do that, and every race I run this year will be dedicated to Sam.”
Dave Harris said that this year Williams will be “running every leg, not just the anchor.”
Kenton Lonberger, another member of the 400-meter relay team, said Williams had a special bond with his fellow relay team members.
“In track you don’t get to have a whole lot of team all the time, and when you do, it’s special,” Lonberger said. “To lose him, you can’t replace somebody like Sam, athletically or as a person.”
Williams also had the third-best time in school history in the 200 meters, running 20.99. That time was put on the scoreboard at the end of the ceremony on Thursday, and the crowd sat silently as the time ticked off the clock.
Williams ran the 20.99 in his final race last spring, a time that earned him his All-American award, which John David Harris had with him on Thursday.
“I had to give him back that award tonight,” Harris said.
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Posted by solong (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What an awesome idea for a tribute putting the time he ran on the scoreboard, sounded like a special guy.
Posted by MissyA (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would just like to extend my love and deepest gratitude to all the students at Emporia, the professors, the staff and above all the track team and their phenomenal coach.
I never had the opportunity to visit Samy in Emporia, but after reading all these articles I have come to realize just how many lives he touches and how many extraordinary friends he has there.
All that you have done and are doing for him, to honor him, and keep him alive is deeply touching to his friends and family abroad. I want to thank you, thank all of you for doing this. It means a lot.
Some of us might be far from Emporia physically, but be assured that our hearts, thoughts and souls are in the same place.
I am sending you so much love
What you are doing is a true blessing,
Alissa.
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