Photo courtesy of Ryan Comstock, Delco Times
Girls cross country senior captain Kendra Williamson ’27 has always created her own success. Whether she’s chasing a personal record or racing against the country’s fastest runners, Williamson approaches each race ready to give it her all.
That mindset has made Williamson one of the most accomplished runners in EA history, and last season Williamson took her determination further than ever. She placed third at Nike Cross Regionals, becoming the first female runner from EA to qualify for Nationals in Oregon, where she lined up against the country’s top runners and finished in 16th place. As a result of her excellent performances, she was named Delco XC’s athlete of the year and earned All-American Honors.
Her success extends directly onto campus as Williamson holds five school records, including the EA girls’ course record and records in the 300M, 2-mile, 3k, and 1600M. Despite her wide range of achievements, not everything has come easily. Girls’ cross country Head Coach and Upper School math teacher Eric Mundy recognizes her ability to learn from failure as one of her biggest strengths, saying, “She has failed many times, but never lets herself become defeated. She just looks at it as, ‘Alright, what do I learn from that?’ And she keeps moving forward.”
Beyond competition, Williamson’s training reflects her commitment to growth. While she may want to push herself constantly, one of the biggest things she has learned is when to slow down and show temporary restraint for lasting gains. “I feel like it is easy to train really hard and wake up early, but then having to hold yourself back is probably the hardest part,” she says.
Additionally, Williamson’s work ethic and mental strength do not exclusively benefit her; they also significantly impact the teammates she runs alongside. “She doesn’t force anybody to do anything. She just does it, and she says, ‘Here’s the bar. Whoever wants to come hit it with me can,” Mundy explains, perfectly articulating how she leads by example and consequently pushes her teammates to their fullest potential.
Speaking to her inspirational abilities, Faith Varga ’27 describes Williamson as an ideal role model. “She’s a good example of loving the sport and putting a lot of time into it,” she says. It can be easy for newer runners to struggle with the mental battles that come with it, but watching leaders like Williamson persevere through anything makes it easier.
Moreover, Williamson does not just see value in achieving her goals; she also values the community she has built with the girls on the team. “Everyone is there to get better,” Williamson says, “The community is amazing, and everyone wants to be there.”
That community was especially evident last year at the Nike Cross Regionals race. The team waited as Williamson finished her race, eager to find out if she qualified for Nationals. When they found out she had, all of the girls ran over to hug and congratulate her. “We were just so proud,” teammate Ava Cavanaugh ’27 says.
As Williamson enters her senior season, she wants to make the most of the time she has left with this team. Her goal is to “have fun and do it for the team instead of myself,” she says. Recently, Williamson has struggled with stress fractures in her foot, requiring her to take off running for two weeks. This obstacle is challenging to adapt to in her final season, but Williamson is determined to recover quickly and return to the course stronger than ever.
After an incredibly impressive high school career, Williamson will further her running career at The Pennsylvania State University next fall, and her legacy at EA extends beyond the plaques around the athletic center or the titles she has earned. She has established herself as one of EA’s most dedicated athletes, leading by example and showing those around her what is possible when you set goals for yourself and push yourself to achieve them. According to Mundy, “Her biggest superpower is her ability to dream, and then she does whatever she needs to do to try to achieve it.”