By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Lucas Williams, a cross country runner for Pima Community College, has used running to cope with the deaths of his brother, his sister, and his former coach.
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Williams said running is tied to his culture, which he learned off the reservation in New Mexico.
“Running is, movement is medicine in our culture,” Williams said.
Williams journey in running started with his brother, Jacob Sanchez, who was a cross country star in his hometown.
“Just looking up to him, I was in fifth grade, I got to watch him run all these home courses and, you know, I just, it was amazing to me,” Williams said.
In 2021, Sanchez died in a car accident. Williams said that is when he decided to follow in his brother’s footsteps.
“The only way I knew how to, like, cope with that was running,” Williams said. “I joined the same cross country team and, you know, running on the same courses as him. It was, it was beautiful to live that through again.”
Williams became a state champion for Laguna Acoma High. His senior year, he transferred to Mica Mountain High in Vail, which was a culture shock for him.
“I felt lost for a while,” Williams said. “I felt very alone and isolated, just being really the only Native American out there, and I found running and, you know, that’s where I found my peace.”
In November of that year, Williams’ former running coach, Daniel Otero, died. Otero was close to Williams and Sanchez. The following summer, Williams’ sister died just before the start of the cross country season.
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Williams said the grief affected his grades and his mental health.
“I didn’t know how to cope, so I went the worst routes I could have possibly gone, and, you know, I’ve seen my darkest days with those substances, and alcohol was the main part,” Williams said.
Williams said he needed a mentor while dealing with addiction and mental health challenges.
Pima cross country head coach Jon Harmon, who grew up on a reservation, was one of those mentors.
“Native Americans, we tend to be a little more reserved, a little more quiet,” Harmon said. “Once someone, especially where he’s, where what he’s gone through, once he’s able to trust you, he’ll run through a brick wall for you, you know?”
Williams improved his grades and became eligible to run for Pima this year. He said the achievement is significant because of the support from his team.
“They don’t know what they’ve done for me,” Williams said. “Being themselves is what has brought me out and out of my bubble to be happy and present and train in the right way.”
As Williams said, he has learned to face his problems rather than avoid them.
“There’s a lot of days where I could switch off and cry all day if I need to, but that’s never been the correct answer, I’ve learned,” Williams said. “Life has obstacles, and we are able to jump through those, and not by ourselves. We need family and friends to help us get there.”
Williams is one of the top 100 freshmen in the NJCAA on the top-ranked Aztec team. The Pima women’s team is No. 2 in the country.
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Williams has a goal of running for the University of Arizona one day.
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