When Diane Williams was 8 years old, her mother, Barbara, challenged her to run against the other children in her neighborhood, but it’s doubtful her mom could have envisioned how this simple act would affect her daughter’s life.
It led Williams to win college scholarships, compete against an international array of athletes, travel to some of the most historic and beautiful places in the world.
Williams, 37, was Illinois’ track and field state champion in the 100- and 200-meter races in 1978 and 1979 while a student at Dunbar High School in Chicago. She also held the NCAA Division II record in the 100 meters in 1983 while a student at California State University in Los Angeles. She had made the Olympic team in 1980, an opportunity that was derailed when the United States boycotted the Moscow games, though she and her parents were invited to the White House by President Jimmy Carter.
“They were so excited, it made me feel good,” said Williams, of Glenwood.
She served as an alternate on the U.S. 400-meter relay team in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I felt really happy. It was something that I trained really hard for, for a long time,” Williams said.
Her visits to other countries to race in world championship track meets gave her a greater appreciation of the advantages available in the United States. That sense of gratitude and a desire to give back have led Williams, manager of University Park’s cable television station (UPTV), to form a track and field team in 1990 for high school girls and to mentor others. Williams, whose track program is based in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, said girls want guidance and support.
“Sometimes that’s really important to young people, to have someone there and to show them that you care,” Williams said. “At least you can hold their hands until they’re ready to stand on their own two feet.”
The 12 girls on the Chicago Trackers team compete during the summer against other teams in the Athletic Congress of Illinois to keep the runners disciplined and prepared for their school’s track season. And Williams’ support already has paid off for some of her athletes. Khadijah Conda won an athletic scholarship to Purdue University, where she is a junior majoring in industrial management. Conda, the Illinois state champion in the 400-meter relay in 1995 and a three-time Big Ten champion in the 400-meter relay, said Williams always stresses academics first.
“I always tell the girls that they can run all they want, but they have to get a college degree,” Williams said. “They could have a career-ending injury. Then what are they going to do?”
Conda said Williams is much more than a track coach.
“She helps prepare you for life, mentally,” said Conda, who added that Williams has lengthy conversations with her runners about many things, including avoiding pregnancy. “She tells us how to conduct ourselves like ladies in all situations and how to be independent so we can make our own decisions. She is just a caring individual, and it radiates from her.”
The Purdue record-holder for the 400-meter relay, set in 1995, said an athlete needs a higher level of mental maturity to become a world-class athlete, and Williams prepares them for the challenge.
“Any coach can take you on the field and make you run for hours, but Diane stresses that you have to be focused when you hit the track,” Conda said. “Sometimes my coaches at Purdue tell me I’m too serious, but Diane taught me to want (success) for myself. I have to give myself pep talks and not expect anyone else to do it.”
As University Park’s cable studio manager, Williams is responsible for taping village meetings and programs and instructing residents on how to use the equipment for their shows or to use on their own.
She wants to get senior citizens more involved at the studio. “They have a wealth of knowledge and experience,” Williams said, “and we could tape their stories.”
As part of her mentoring efforts, Williams teaches Jackie Moore, a Governors State University graduate student in broadcast journalism, how to operate camera and editing equipment at the University Park studio. Moore said Williams’ instruction has helped her advance in her studies.
“With her teaching me, I’ll already know some editing,” Moore said. “This will put me ahead of my classmates.”
Williams added that sometimes it’s not just the technical aspects of teaching that are important.
“It’s important to teach (students) to just believe in themselves, to believe they can do anything they want,” Williams said.
Williams also produces two shows for Chicago cable access stations and works as a freelance personal trainer and a graphic artist. She still finds time to run one to two miles three days a week.
“Running is a part of my everyday being,” she said. “It makes me relaxed and mentally alert. It keeps me disciplined.”
