On a cold late January weekend, the Stevenson track and field teams traveled south to Virginia and George Mason University for the 2024 George Mason Patriot Games.  

On the same weekend, Nathan Williams traveled north on his own to Penn State for the Penn State National Open.  

Why did Williams travel to a different meet than the rest of them?  

He has been crushing competition this season and the Penn State National Open offers heavy competition against big Division I athletes. Some of the best in the world.  

“The atmosphere at the big Division I level is the same. Everyone is still friendly and talks to each other,” Williams said. The competition is just fiercer with Williams describing the room for error as, “walking a tightrope.” 

Williams sits second in the conference for shot put (53 feet, 2.75 inches) and first in the weight throw (67 feet, 4.75 inches). He also sits at number two in the nation for weight throw and 18th in the shot. 

Back at George Mason there were a couple of standout performances, but everyone checked in a good day with personal records and qualifications all over.  

Hayden Schindler turned in the key performance by setting a school record in the 1000-meter run (2.39.11).  

“I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing in training, and that’s just taking my time. I also need to keep reaching towards bigger goals such as nationals,” Schindler said. 

Fabrice Saint-Hillien also had a standout performance, coming within one second of the school record in the 400–meter dash (51.96 seconds). He is also leading the team so far this season in the 200 and 400, and is tied for the team lead in the 60-meter dash. 

This weekend, the teams head to Staten Island, New York to compete in the FastTrack National Invite. Williams again will head in another direction as he goes to the Division III Pre-Nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia.