Written by Athletic Communications Intern and track and field student-athlete: Corey Goodloe




Oakland University men's track and field student-athlete Jimmie Williams has been seemingly unstoppable after winning his impressive third consecutive Horizon League indoor 400m title along with his first 200m title earning 2021 Indoor Men's Championship Outstanding Performer, Running honors for the first time in his career.  

To be the best, you cannot rest on your laurels although the senior sprinter has plenty to rest on. During his four years at Oakland, Williams has broken four individual program records: outdoor 400m (47.11), indoor 400m (47.30), indoor 200m (21.33), and indoor 300m (33.68). He also has won seven total (three outdoor and four indoor) individual league titles.

Anyone on the outside looking in would say this is an accomplished career of great endurance. Not for Williams. With each win or loss, each broken record or unbroken record, it is a driving force for him to be better the next time.  

The first sign of something special came during his freshman season in his response to a loss in a tight 400m battle in the 2018 Horizon League Indoor Championship finals. It was precisely this loss that gave him a chip on his shoulder mentally that strengthened him to rebound and win the ensuing 2018 Horizon League Outdoor 400m final and maintain dominance during the 2019 season. You could say that his response was a figurative shout from the rooftops, "nothing will stop me!"  

In spite of such success, Williams is humbled and very grateful to be where he is right now. However, he feels there is more work to be done.  

"It feels good, I'm grateful," said Williams. "I still feel like I have a lot more to prove."

Undoubtedly, success comes with great pressure. Williams feels his pressures do not stem from an intense need to defend his title but have everything to do with the expectations he has set for himself. His most clear expectation is breaking both the Horizon League 400m (46.6) and 200m (21.1) records, which is a goal he has been keenly locked in on since setting school marks in both events. He believes that both records are doable and the job is not finished until he achieves them both.  

From being a freshman who spoke wistfully of his possibility of breaking 48 seconds in the 400m, to now being a senior who has 46 seconds within his grasp, this journey -- from where it started to where it is now -- would have never been predicted.

This seemingly abrupt success would not be possible without good coaching and a good training partner/teammate that has helped Williams, which I take great pride in.  

"Coming in I got over the 48 hump, quickly," said Williams. "Especially from going back and forth in practice and track meets with Corey [Goodloe]. Honestly, Corey was the one to push me."

Tempo running, coupled with speed training gave Williams the base he needed to compete at a high level against quality competition. He believes combining these two training methods are more effective than focusing on just one particular method.  

"Being conditioned is important and if you're just doing speed work for the 400m, you're not going to make it around," added Williams.

The 400m is a grueling race and one you have to be mentally sharp for. Having a challenging training plan, competing with and against athletes who are just as good or better than him, made Williams catch on pretty early in his development. Learning the importance of having a strong mentality, and though he is confident, his mentality is separate from anything boastful or arrogant.  

"I don't go in expecting to win or to lose," said Williams.  " I just go in trusting my training and that's what helps me mentally. I know the 400m is going to hurt, but I also go through that pain in practice. The meets are the "big dance" to show how much work you have put in."

Leaving aside Jimmie the athlete, Jimmie the person has an interesting look on life. A Criminal Justice major, Williams has a strong motivation for helping others which he shows in personal acts of service around campus. He says, "I want to be remembered as someone who was always willing to lend a helping hand."

"When I'm at the Hive or Tilly's, I would randomly ask the person behind me, ''Are you using declining points or your debit card" and the majority of them will say they're using their debit card so I would offer to pay for their food with my declining points because you never know what someone is going through, that may have been their last [debit card funds]."

The phrase "good things happen when you do good things for others" is certainly indicative of what he does for others and that energy translates into his success on the track. With this formula in place, Williams is well on his way to be remembered as one of the best track and field student-athletes ever to compete at Oakland.



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