St. Mary's senior William Beardsley broke his own Pacific and Far East meet records in the 1,600. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Jane Williams and William Beardsley have spent this spring and all of last fall chiseling and re-chiseling their names into the pages of the Pacific’s cross country and track record books.

Thus, it was no surprise Thursday when the two senior distance runners once more etched new marks in both the Pacific and DODEA Far East track and field meet ledgers, each bettering standing 1,600-meter records.

Williams, of Matthew C. Perry, was timed in 5 minutes, 5.97 seconds on a brilliantly sunny, clear day at Yokota’s Bonk Field.

That topped her two-week-old Pacific record of 5:06.99 set on her home Samurai Field track and topped the Far East mark of 5:07.45 set in 2015 by Seisen’s Brittani Shappell.

“I’m usually afraid to go too fast on the second lap,” Williams said. “But this time, I feel like I gave it my all. It was a genuine effort.”

Williams, who has committed to Division I Utah State for cross country and track next school year, says the 800 and 3,200 races are easier for her; she is entered in each event Friday.

“The mile (1,600) is the hardest for me,” Williams said. “Today, I feel like I did it well.”

Guam High senior Cameron Brantley led the way in both the boys 110- and 300-meter hurdle preliminaries. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Kubasaki's Carlos Cadet finished second and third in the 110- and 300-meter hurdle preliminaries. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Kinnick's Ja'lilah Brice led the way after the 110-meter hurdle preliminaries. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Guam High's Alexandria Levy was in front after the 300-meter hurdle preliminaries. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Humphreys distance runner Reagan McGuire is one of just eight girls on the team, but says she's hopeful that since they're spread over multiple events, they can still score points in bunches. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Despite leg cramps, Kadena senior Sharday Baker says she's hopeful she can beat her preliminary time of 12.65 in the 100. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

After finishing sixth last year, Kinnick's Kahlil Busscher captured the discus in the Far East meet. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Beardsley, meanwhile, didn’t just edge his old Far East meet and Pacific records of 4:17.38, set last April, and 4:15.12 set in last month’s Kanto Plain finals.

The St. Mary’s senior, tabbed to run for Division I Michigan next fall, was timed in 4:11.61, shattering the Pacific mark by nearly 3½ seconds and the Far East record by nearly six seconds.

Despite his feat, he said he wasn’t entirely happy with the result.

“I wanted 4:08,” said Beardsley, who on Friday will try to top his meet and Pacific marks in the 3,200. “I was a little disappointed. I’ll try again tomorrow.”

Day 1 of the Far East meet featured three field and four running finals and preliminaries in five other running events. Friday’s slate includes finals in six running and three field events.

After one day’s competition, organizers said Humphreys and Kadena appear to be favored in the Division I boys competition, while Nile C. Kinnick holds the edge in the D-I girls. Zama’s boys and Yokota’s girls appeared to be in front in the Division II team chase.

“We have a strong team that’s collecting points,” Blackhawks first-year head coach Misty Galamison said. “It would be nice to take first but the kids are out there working. I’m proud of what they’ve been able to display.”

Blackhawks senior distance runner Reagan McGuire, who won the girls 400 preliminary, said any team has a chance.

“We only have eight girls, but we’re all stacked in multiple events,” McGuire said. “If we don’t win, it’ll be really close. I think we’ll be up there.”

Kinnick’s longtime head coach Luke Voth said a point here or there could make the difference for all the teams, and that the D-I schools are very balanced.

“Several athletes from one school stepping up a bit more than others,” Voth said. “Two-day meets, they’re longer and more grueling than anything else we do all season. It could simply come down to the team that best keeps their composure throughout.”

Kinnick’s throwers were among many who saw marked improvement in their distances over last year. Kahlil Busscher took the boys discus, while Danielle Kouamo and Leona Turner finished 1-2 in shot put.

“Last year, I didn’t think I was going to place that high,” Busscher said; he finished sixth last year. “This year, I wanted to win.”

Kouamo, also a junior, placed sixth last year, and said this year she was able to combine technique with power. “I’ve been eyeing” the title since her sophomore year, she said. “I’m glad I got to make up for it.”

Others chasing individual records include Kadena senior Sharday Baker, who ran the 100 prelim in 12.65 seconds, despite leg cramps. She is hoping to surpass the Pacific record of 12.26 and the Far East meet record of 12.33.

“Mentally, I’m stable. I’m used to this,” said Baker, who has run in a Junior Olympics meet in Jacksonville, Fla. “Tomorrow, I’m going to run faster.”

New to Far East meets is Guam High senior Cameron Brantley, who led the way in the preliminaries for both the 110 and 300 hurdles. It’s the Panthers’ first appearance at Far East since 2019.

“Blessed to be here,” Brantley said. “I’ve put a lot of hard work into the offseason. I’ll make it (Friday) my best one.”