GIRLS WINNER: Lily Williams – Junior @ Chiles
Scott Gowan has been coaching for a long time, twenty five years to be exact, thirteen years at Port St. Joe and twelve so far at Chiles. Gowan has also coached numerous state championship squads and individuals on both the girls and boys side. So, when he says that junior Lily Williams is up there with some of the top runners he’s coached she has to be something special, and a special talent she is.
This weekend Williams was on her “A” game at the Bolles Bulldog Classic. She won the 800 in a top ten time of 2:18.44. In the 1600, she broke her own school record of 4:58.56 she set while winning last year’s 3A state championship. Her 4:57.31 is the fastest time in the state for 2011, not bad a month into the season! She also ran a 59.9 in her leg of the 4x400. Coach Gowan believes this was a solid performance from the junior.
“It was a very good meet for Lily. She’s going to try and do her best every time she gets on the track. I wasn’t surprised that she beat a good field in the 800 and 1600. She’s a total team player and will do whatever you ask her to do.”
A state champion in the 1600 and 3200 in 2010, Gowan credits her success to a passion for the sport and a good support system. Both of Lily’s parents ran collegiately for the University of Wisconsin. Gowan says that atmosphere pushes Williams to be the best.
“She expects to be successful in whatever it takes and she’s willing to do whatever she has to athletically or academically. She is very well disciplined, driven, self motivated and an extremely hard worker. Whatever you ask her to do she will do it and I’m very glad to be able to coach her.”
BOYS WINNER: Tyler Cardillo – Senior @ Charlotte
Charlotte senior Tyler Cardillo will tell you his favorite race is the 800. It’s the one he has posted some of his best times in, is on a relay for, and ran the most at meets. However, it is the mile his coaches have been grooming him for, and it is that same mile and his performance in it at this weekend’s New Balance Indoor Nationals, that make Cardillo our Warrior of the Week.
The senior running his first indoor race ever, in his hometown state of New York, fought his way to a third place finish with a time of 4:13.48 to earn All-American honors. The week before the event, Cardillo wasn’t in the championship but rather the emerging elite. After posting a 3:57 in the 1500 which equates to a 4:16 in the mile, he was moved to the other heat. If you want to show you belong Cardillo definitely did that.
His personal coach Cliff Clark says this is just the beginning.
“Coach George and I have known he was going to be a miler from the very beginning. We made the decision to keep him in the 400/800 until this season to build up his leg speed at an early age. Last year we put him in one 1600 just to check him out and he ran an easy 4:18, winning by 17 seconds. I am convinced that if the pace had been as we expected, he would have run sub-4:10 that night. He beat several who have been under 4:10.”
When asked about Tyler’s performance his Charlotte coach Chris George wasn’t surprised. In fact he thought 4:10 was a realistic possibility as well. He knew Cardillo was a special athlete from the time he stepped on the track his freshman year.
“He was the first guy I coached that broke 17 minutes in the 5k and on the track he was breaking 4:40 in the mile as a freshman. He went 1:58 in the 800 and that was the fastest time on the team at the time. I knew if I could keep him healthy, training year round, and getting more meet experience, he’d become a better racer.”
The most consistent comment about Cardillo his demeanor and his humility, always polite, respectful, on and off the track. On the track, his passion and competitive nature shine brightly. Coach Clark has known Tyler most of his life and talks about the type of person he is.
“Tyler’s character is impeccable. There was a time when his humility actually interfered with his performances. He is such a kind and caring kid that he lacked a bit of the killer instinct necessary in a champion athlete. I think he felt he had to be one, or the other, but he is proving nice guys do not have to finish last. He now has it in balance, so watch out!”
Coach George says that his finish at New Balance Indoor Nationals may serve as a wakeup call for Cardillo in regards to the 1600. He believes the standout has the ability to contend for a state championship in both the 800 and 1600, as well as the 4x8. Cardillo will run for the Gators next year and Coach George feels with his strength and endurance his strong point will be the 1500 rather than the 8.
No matter what he runs on the next level, Coach Clark has high hopes for Cardillo.
“Florida is getting a gem in Tyler.”