
What do you do when the race that broke you is now the opportunity to cement your legacy?
Kellen Williams, a senior at Jesuit High School in Portland, has lived both sides of greatness. Two years ago, as a sophomore, he watched his team’s NXN dreams slip away in the final kilometer. Today, he’s the #1 guy on the #2 team in the nation, leading Jesuit’s chase for a national title.
We unpack Kellen’s rise to stardom over the last 12 months, including a victory at the Oregon Relays Mile, two 2nd-place finishes at the Oregon State Meet, and a stunning breakout win at the Mook Invitational, beating top regional contenders, and shattering the course record in a time of 14:28.
We also dive deep into how Kellen rebuilt himself after hitting rock bottom due to irony deficiency, and what it took to move from shame to self-belief, failure to a final dance.
Finally, Kellen and I explore what it means to lead a powerhouse team without losing yourself in the rankings — to chase history while staying grounded with your boys.
So many nuggets of wisdom. So many stories. Worth your listen.
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