Villoria is running some of the fastest times in the state, making him a runner to watch in the upcoming O'ahu Interscholastic Association and HHSAA state championship meets.

His fastest time this season in the 100-meter dash, 10.71 seconds at an OIA meet last month, would beat the HHSAA state meet record set by St. Anthony's Shane Victorino (10.8) in 1999. Olympian Bryan Clay, while at Castle, had a wind-aided time of 10.52 seconds in 1998, and Nanakuli's Clayton Mahuka ran a hand-timed 10.6 in 1985, both state meet records.

Villoria's fastest 200-meter dash this season is 22.0 seconds, set at a preseason meet. It is slightly off Kapa'a senior Joseph Locey's record of 21.9 seconds set in the trials of last year's state meet. Konawaena's Casey Flores ran a hand-timed 21.2 in 1996, and Clay ran a wind-aided 21.41 in 1998, also state meet marks.

This season, Villoria won the 100 (10.8) and 200 (22.2) at the OIA East Championships, and tied the meet record in the 100 (10.8) at the John E. Velasco Invitational at Radford, a dirt track.

But he isn't running to beat the times of past Hawai'i champions or current challengers — his biggest competition is against the clock.

"My ultimate goal is to run faster than 10 seconds," Villoria said of his 100-meter time. "I don't expect to do it next year, but in the following years to come. I want to be running for the U.S., on their Olympic team."

He began running track his sophomore year, at the insistence of his football coaches, who wanted their players to be involved with other sports.

"The first day at practice, I didn't want to be there," he said. "I didn't enjoy it at the beginning of the season, but I started to like it. It's more competitive than football, because it's all about speed; it's how fast you are."

He stopped football, but continued with track.

His breakthrough came last summer, after his junior year, when he learned proper sprinting technique, which he credits to the Renegades Track Club.

"I would run crooked, all over the place," he said. "My arms would go side to side instead of forward and back.

"But after summer, I found I was pretty good at this, so I got really serious. If only I took it seriously my sophomore year ..."

Farrington track coach Darren Weaver said he saw the potential in Villoria right away.

"I started coaching him in JV and I knew he had the speed," Weaver said. "And when he took it serious, he changed his technique and his times went down."

Weaver said Villoria's biggest asset, besides his speed, is his dedication and hard work.

"He doesn't take it lightly," said his father, Mike. "We have our own weights and he lifts pretty much every day. It's a joy to me to see that. I thank the Lord because of Joshua and the way he is carrying himself like a man. If he continues, he has a good future ahead."

Villoria also dedicates his time to other extracurricular activities. He has been active as a junior life guard, he is a member of his church's children's worship team, and he works as an assistant karate instructor.

Villoria credits his close-knit family with his success.

"It helped me a lot, we grew up in a Christian family, with values and communication," Villoria said. "A lot of my friends, they don't have families like that. They come home whenever they want. My parents are so there for me, I have amazing parents, no one can replace them."

His dedication was awakened last summer, when Villoria attended the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics in Eugene, Ore.

"I went in there thinking I was going to make the finals," he said. "When I went up there, I got spanked, I got put to shame. Right off the blocks, they had me like 5 yards. That's what opened my eyes. It gave me a good experience of what it was like to be a champion.

"I never did lose in track and field until that moment. I was so bummed. I changed my perspective on track and field. It wasn't something to do for fun, it was serious for me now."

He plans on running in college, and his likeliest choice is Azusa Pacific in California, the school that Clay attended.

He said he doesn't feel pressure from being the person to beat, and said if he stays healthy, "I know I'm going to perform very well. It's cool, I think whatever exposure is good."

With his fast times, he is earning exposure for the Governors as well. Along with football players Shaun Lauvao and John Fonoti, who signed with Arizona State and the University of Hawai'i, respectively, Farrington's track and field team has started gaining attention.

"It's not that easy over there, trying to get respect, especially with track and field," Weaver said. "Track and field is not too popular at Farrington, but they started something.

"He's such a good example with the younger kids. About 90 percent of the track members, this is their first time. Some of the sprinters, some are trying to follow him, with his technique. He's done a good job with being a model and a leader, the boys really listen to him and they really respect him."