THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 23, 1996 TAG: 9606230194
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: 78 lines
Not long ago, Tonya Williams learned that when you're not sure where you are from, you don't always care where you go.
Williams is thankful she discovered this in time and had the chance to change. Thankful she had the eyes to finally look, the ears to listen and the legs to run fast.
It has meant the world to her. Some day, it could mean a world championship. They say the Norview High School graduate could be that good of a hurdler.
Not yet, though. Here at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Williams, 21, showed herself still to be more raw talent than polish. A two-time NCAA 400-meter hurdles champion, Williams did nothing to make Asics, the shoe company that has signed her, rethink its investment.
Neither, though, did she make the Olympic team. Williams finished sixth last week in the 400-meter hurdles final, and Saturday finished sixth in her 100-meter hurdles semifinal and failed to move on.
``I'll be doing this for a while,'' Williams said. ``I'm not saying I've got to get a gold medal, but I've got to make at least one Olympic team. I'll put the gold medal on my list then.''
In any case, Williams knows victory.
What else would you call it when you live through losing your mother to a heart attack when you are 3? When your father drinks so much that he is incapable of raising you, so you move in with grandparents who give you a long leash for the next nine years?
When you get parceled from Miami to a great-aunt in Norfolk when the grandparents die within four months of each other? When you have seen one photograph of your mother your entire life, your dad spends half a year in jail and you become, in your own estimation, ``a horrible little girl''?
``When I came from Florida (at age 12) I was so bad. I did almost anything and everything,'' Williams said. ``It was nothing really bad, but things a young baby my age didn't need to be doing.''
She didn't care. Didn't know how to care, or whom and what to respect. That changed when an uncle decided Williams should live with her great-aunt in Norfolk, who introduced Williams to the concept of discipline.
First, Williams' grades improved. Then, her transformation accelerated when she wore down her great-aunt's opposition to sports and was allowed to play field hockey and run track her junior year.
Williams and sports, particularly track, were a natural fit, which wasn't lost on University of Illinois coach Gary Winkler. Winkler recruited Williams and suddenly, her once-meandering road gained real direction.
Williams admits she still doesn't train like she needs to or eat like a top-flight athlete. But now that running is her business, Williams vows to adopt a business-like approach.
``Tonya's very talented. She knows that,'' said Winkler, who will continue to coach Williams as a pro. ``She has to be patient now, continue to do what she does and look at this thing as another four-year period. If she does that, things are even going to be brighter.''
Williams' support system, however, her sense of family and history remain a true void. She broke down when Illinois students, faculty and coaches sent her good-luck notes and letters before the trials. It's something parents and siblings would do. Williams loves that feeling, wherever she can find it.
``None of my people really come watch me run,'' said Williams, whose relatives, including her father, mostly live in Florida. ``I just wish sometimes that my mom was here. I know how a lot of people say you can't miss something you never had, but that's a lie. Because I never met my mom, but I miss her dearly. I figure she's upstairs watching me now.''
Williams said her father is watching, too, if from a distance.
``He's out of jail, he's working, he goes to school, and he doesn't drink anymore,'' Williams said. ``Every night I say my prayers, and I'm just so happy because I'm so proud of my dad.''
She is proud of something else. The way she turned a troubled child into a promising adult.
``If something happened to me tomorrow and I don't run again, I'm happy with everything that's happened,'' Williams said. ``To come from where I came from, I've done so much.'' ILLUSTRATION: FILE photo
Tonya Williams, bottom right, made a good showing this year at the
Trials in the 400-meter hurdles. by CNB