Jennifer MacKay Williams (2019) - Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame

Jennifer MacKay Williams

Induction:
2019
Class:
1997

Versatility described Jen MacKay's Richmond swimming career. Success defined it. Her record-setting performances and first place finishes came in events ranging from freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, medleys and relays. They came during regular season meets and in conference championships.

As a junior, MacKay set a pool record at Navy in the 100-meter butterfly and pool and meet records at George Washington in the 100 butterfly and backstroke. MacKay and her class started an unbeaten streak for coach Warren Hammer's Spiders of 29 consecutive dual meets from 1996-1999.

As a sophomore at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships, she won the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. As a junior, she repeated in the 100-yard backstroke and was part of teams that won the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays, and the 200-yard medley relay. She punctuated her Spider career as a senior, winning her third straight 100-yard backstroke, her second 100-yard butterfly, and was part of relay teams that again won the 200 and 400-yard freestyle events and also captured the 400-yard medley relay. Those efforts earned her CAA Championship Most Outstanding Performer.

She set Richmond records in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke and the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relay, and finished with 11 CAA titles.

As a junior, she earned All-America status from the National Strength and Conditioning Association and was honored as the 1996 Strength and Conditioning Female Athlete of the Year. Following her senior season, Jen MacKay Williams was named Spider Club Female Athlete of the Year and was also honored as the University of Richmond's NCAA Woman of the Year nominee.