LAKELAND — Former George Jenkins runner Chelsi Williams dominated four events during her high school career, but with the 10-time state champion now at Georgia, her events are wide open for other athletes to take control.
George Jenkins junior Michaelah Williams is trying to do that in the long jump. She has been ranked No. 1 in the event in Polk County all season and jumped a personal record of 18 feet 1 inch to move just outside the top 10 in Class 4A at the Lakeland City Meet on Tuesday.
Michaelah is hoping to take the next step in her career by being a contender for a state medal. She was elated by her result in the long jump and is happy with the way her season has progressed.
“It’s been really good,” she said. “I’ve been improving a lot, staying in the weight room, and we’re working on my technique. It’s improved and it’s been showing since I’ve been doing long jumps at my recent meets.”
Michaelah also won the 400 in 58.73 before lightning suspended the City Meet, and the rest of the events were canceled. It wasn’t her best time as she ran 56.54 last season, but she had just ran the 4×100.
“I need to get my time back to 56 again,” she said. “I know I can. I just got to work hard and work on my endurance some more so that way my legs won’t be hurting like they were right. now.”
George Jenkins track coach Curtis Williams said Michaelah has tremendous upside as a track athlete.
“I told her if you jump like that, you’ll be on the podium (at state) some day,” he said. “I think Michaelah, she’s really, really getting there in the long jump. She’ll be on the podium in the long jump this year.”
Last year, Michaelah had more success in the 400. She won the event five times, including at city, county and districts. She finished second with her PR at regionals then ran 58.39 to finish 17th at state.
In the long jump, Michaelah jumped 16-11 in the first meet of the season but never surpassed it. She went on to finish seventh at county and fourth at districts. Her second-best mark was 15-10.5 at regionals.
This season in the long jump, she began at 16-02.25 in her first meet the improved to a then-PR of 17-5 before taking another big step on Tuesday.
Michaelah is pleased with how she’s progressing.
“It’s showing me what I need to change, what I need to improve on, and it shows that whatever I’ve improved on, keep doing it,” she said.
Michaelah also finished second in the 100.
City Meet Highlights
Some of the top runners like Lakeland sprinter DJ Dobie and Victory Christian hurdler Andrew Morrison in the county didn’t compete on Tuesday because they’re slated for bigger meets later this week, including the FSU Relays. There still were others who excelled at the City Meet before the event ended prematurely.
Jenkins junior Tori Gibson competes in three of Chelsi’s former events. She won the 100 hurdles in 14.96 and took second to Lakeland Christian’s Issa Simpson in the triple jump. She also was second in the long jump. Her best event, the 400 hurdles, was canceled because of the lightning.
The George Jenkins girls also got wins from Geriah Street in the 100, Natalie Moss in the high jump and Sophia Suman in the pole vault.
Lakeland Christian’s Emma Wilkinson won the 1,600.
Jenkins was winning the City Meet by a wide margin when the event was called and now will be looking to defend its county title on April 4.
Curtis Williams is wary of Winter Haven, however, especially with his team being so young.
“Everybody now is just trying to feel their way, and that’s what scares me about heading into county.” he said. “I’m only like 20 points up on Winter Haven. And Winter Haven, they are running on all cylinders right now. And so I’m like the only thing we need to do is just make a slight mistake. It’s been a long time since we lost county, but this could probably be the year.”
For the boys, Lakeland Christian’s Bryson Kane won two events, winning the shot put and the discus. Hardy Terry won the pole vault.
George Jenkins led the team competition and got wins from Gabriel Bourque in the 110 hurdles and Sha’Ki Parker in the 100. Lake Gibson won the 4×100, and Lakeland’s Caleb Harris won the high jump.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: George Jenkins junior Michaelah Williams taking leap forward in long jump
Reporting by Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
