The Life and Times of All-American Tierra Williams

Williams, Akinmoladun Earn All-America Finishes

Pepin Admirers Williams, Bartel Serve Others

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Nebraska fans across the country and around the world treasure a joyful sports-related story that helps everyone understand why so many of us like to say that there really is NO PLACE like Nebraska.   

Husker fans, meet Tierra Williams, ajunior who became a serious triple jumper last summer and launched her body 43-feet and 4½ inches (13.22m) last weekend in Birmingham, Ala. The turbo-charged performance from someone still learning the event helped Williams finish fifth in the NCAA Women’s Track and Field Indoor Championships and enabled her to fly back to Lincoln as a first-team All-American.

The most cheerful and cherishing part of this unique Nebraska success story goes all the way back to Williams living in New Orleans. She was 11 years old when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the family home, leaving her parents and six children without a place to live.

Andrea Williams, Tierra’s mother, stood in line to ask for relief, only to hear the woman directly ahead of them scorning an offer to relocate their family to Auburn, Neb. Minutes after she disappointedly left the line, Tierra’s mom graciously accepted the same opportunity, and somehow destiny became an important part in the life and times of Tierra Williams, All-American.

Equal credit goes to Tierra’s mom, who didn’t want the family to split up during tough times, and the entire community of Auburn, a Southeast Nebraska town of 3,400 and hometown of former Husker football players Chad Kelsay and Chris Kelsay, both of whom played in the NFL.

Until Moving to Nebraska, Tierra, Age 11, Had Never Talked to a White Person

Tierra remembers crying for two weeks upon her Nebraska arrival, and her mother understood why. It was the first time that Tierra, an African-American, had ever talked to a white person.

To this day, Tierra considers her transition from Louisiana to Nebraska as the highlight of her life. “When a church offered to pay the first six months of rent for us, we were grateful,” she recalled. “They also gave us a car. We came to Nebraska because my parents needed a place where we could get back on our feet. We lost everything we owned in the hurricane.”

A local church in Auburn wasn’t the only blessing when the Williams family moved from the Big Easy and into the heart of the Midlands. “Nebraska is really special to me because when I came here, no one has ever given up on me,” Williams told me. “Nebraska always believed in me and gave me the spirit to follow my dreams.

“The people who live in Nebraska are just so positive,” Williams said. “They gave us something that you just can’t replace, and we really, truly consider Auburn as our home. Honestly, I don’t know if I would be where I am today without the support of the entire community of Auburn.”

At this point in our conversation, there’s a brief pause. “I cry and get emotional whenever I talk about this,” Williams said, tearing up. “If you ask me, I think Auburn is the best of the best.”

When She Became Stronger-Faster, Tierra Surprised Herself More Than Anyone

Who knows? With this spring and summer’s outdoor competition and a senior season ahead of her, perhaps Williams will climb even higher to contend for a national title in the triple jump.

“The reason I wasn’t triple jumping my freshman and sophomore years at Nebraska was because I really wasn’t strong enough to train,” Williams said. “I was kind of always hurt. I was just never healthy enough to do both the long jump and triple jump.”

Nebraska Head Coach Gary Pepin and volunteer assistant Clayton Pritchard “were always hinting about trying the triple jumpers’ drills,” Williams recalled. “They wanted me to give it a chance and do it this year. I triple jumped my junior and senior years of high school, but never seriously. I wasn’t all that great. The only reason I did it was to get some points for the team.

“I think I surprised myself more than everyone else when I decided to get serious about triple jumping last fall,” Williams said. “Strength and conditioning were big factors for me. For the first time, I stayed in Lincoln during the summer and started lifting a lot more. Before that, I didn’t lift much because I didn’t know how, so I avoided weight rooms at all costs.

“I honestly don’t think I would have worked out last summer without the help of (strength and conditioning coach) Brian Kmitta,” Williams said. “I had to get stronger and I did. I try not to put limits on myself and just work as hard as I can. Brian gave me the list of what I needed to do, and I went into the weight room and got strong enough to triple jump at a high level. Getting stronger was the ultimate goal, and it definitely paid off.”

Nebraska Coach Gary Pepin helps Tierra Williams wear her first letter jacket at an N Club induction ceremony.

Moving from The Big Easy, Williams Learned Nothing Comes Easy at Nebraska

The No. 1 thing Williams has learned at Nebraska is that nothing comes easy. “You always have to work hard for everything,” she said. “Ultimately, that will help me when I work as an intern and help people who are struggling. I want to help them understand that they’re on a journey and nothing’s easy, so they have to keep fighting.”

While helping others, Williams pushes harder herself. “I don’t want to ever give up, and that applies to both track and field and life itself,” she said. “When you’re on a journey, you have to work hard and find your way, just like we did when we moved to Auburn. To me, my adopted hometown really is the best of the best.”

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