Todd Williams (born March 7, 1969)[1] is a retired long-distance runner from the United States, who represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, competing in Barcelona 1992 finishing 10th in the 10k and a DNF in the semifinals in Atlanta 1996(dropping out with 10 laps to go after fading from the lead qualifiers). Williams was born in Monroe, Michigan. During high school he won the Michigan cross country team race title twice(1985,1986) as well as the class A 3200m race twice indoor and outdoor(1986,1987) and a 1st team All-American his junior and senior years.
He was a two-time United States cross country champion, with victories in 1991 and 1993 and the 1992,1993, 1995 and 1996 10,000m USA Champion. He won his last USA title on the track at the USA Indoor Championship in the 3000m 1997.
He attended the University of Tennessee where he was an All-American for three years, won the USA junior national cross country title(1988) and as a senior helped lead the Vols to a NCAA track and field
title in 1991.
As a professional running for adidas he made the world championships in cross country 1992,1993 and 1995 and was #1 American in those races along with qualifying for two world track and field teams(1993 and 1995) finishing as top American in both those events as well. As a junior he qualified for the World Junior Cross Country Championships in 1987(Warsaw, Poland) and 1988(Auckland, New Zealand) where he was #1 American finisher in both races.
On the road racing scene Todd won USA titles in the 10k,15k,10 mile, 1/2 marathon distances as well as winning many other major road races.
After his professional running career ended in 2002 he started training in the martial art Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is now
a 4th degree black belt under Luiz Palhares and owns Monroe Jiu Jitsu in Monroe, Michigan since 2017.
He had amazing coaches from 8th grade thru his professional career with Coach Rick Kleinsmith, Coach Randy Monday, Coach Bobby Wood, Coach David Bork, Coach Doug Brown and Coach George Watts helping Todd helping and guiding Todd immensely throughout his career.
* Events before 1906 are considered unofficial. Distances have varied as follows: 2 Miles (1899–1931) and odd numbered years since 2015, 5000 meters (1933–1939), 3 Miles 1932, (1940–1986), and 3000 meters (1987–2014) and even numbered years since 2014
