Smyrna's Williams now the one to beat 110-meter hurdles
SMYRNA — Elijah Williams never set out to be a hurdler.
It was more like the event found him.
The Smyrna High senior was mostly a triple jumper in middle school. But he stood out …
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Smyrna's Williams now the one to beat 110-meter hurdles
By Andy WalterSMYRNA — Elijah Williams never set out to be a hurdler.
It was more like the event found him.
The Smyrna High senior was mostly a triple jumper in middle school. But he stood out because of his height.
“They put me in it (the hurdles) because I was tall,” said Williams. “I had a lot of practices where it was just not good.”
Learning to run the hurdles isn’t easy. Williams has the scars to prove it.
He says he has at least eight scars on his left knee from hitting hurdles.
Gradually, though, Williams started getting the hang of it. By last spring he finally had his breakthrough moment, edging Sussex Tech star Youngendy Mauricette to win the DIAA Division I state title in the 110-meter hurdles.
With Mauricette now running for USC, Williams really has a chance to shine in the end-of-the year championship meets.
Williams went into the Henlopen Conference championships, which conclude this evening at Lake Forest, with the top time in the state in the 110 hurdles this spring (14.08 seconds). The 6-foot-3 athlete also has the state’s top height in the high jump (6-foot-9) and will compete in the 300 hurdles and long jump as well.
“It’s wonderful to have someone like Elijah,” said Smyrna coach Tyson Tanner, who joined the program last spring. “He’s a great talent. He’s been contributing a lot, especially when it comes to assisting other athletes on the team to try to take his place once he leaves.
“From the very beginning I noticed that he has a talent that’s above the rest. A lot of people follow him.”
While he’s good in all his events, the 110 hurdles are where Williams has made a name for himself. Earlier this season, his time in the event was the 50th best in the country.
Tanner said Williams’ strength is his ability to pull away down the stretch.
“He’s really quick,” said Tanner. “He’s done some things in the hurdles that I’ve seen people do but at a higher level. He’s able to play with someone while running and still run sub-15.
“You can see him. He just turns it on and gets faster immediately. ... It’s exciting to see someone who has that great deal of talent and that passion that he does.”
“My favorite part is probably halfway through the race because that’s when I get faster,” said Williams.
Williams said finally topping Mauricette in the state finals was a big moment for him. Both runners were clocked in 14.13 seconds.
In several meets, Mauricette was the only runner faster than Williams.
“He’s been my competition for the past three years and I finally beat him,” said Williams. “It was amazing, especially that it was at states.
“Every time we talked, it was definitely competition. It was, ‘I’m going to beat you at this race,’ or ‘I’m going to get you at the next one.’
“I’ve raced him my whole career,” Williams added, “Now it’s my senior year and I’m the one that everyone’s chasing. It makes me know that there’s a lot on my back. There’s a lot of great talent that, if I mess up, they can definitely get me.”
One of Williams’ top competitors is Caesar Rodney sophomore Gabe Harris, the son of former Dover star Bruce Harris. Gabe Harris has the state’s top time this season in the 300 hurdles (39.15 seconds).
“I love competing,” said Williams. “The Henlopen Conference has a lot of good athletes. He (Harris) has definitely been good competition.”
Right now, Williams is planning to go to Coppin State as a hurdler and high jumper.
As much as he wants to do well individually, Williams said it’s important to him to collect points for his team. Tanner said, if things fall into place, he can count on Williams to contribute 30 points in a meet.
“My freshman and sophomore years we won conferences,” said Williams. “It was an amazing experience. I always want to get back to that moment.
“It’s been a big battle. I know I have to pick up a lot for the team. I always want to be the best I can, not just for myself but for the team.”
Notes
•Seaford sprinter Jazonte Levan has the state’s best time in the 200 meters (21.26). In field events, Henlopen Conference athletes with the top distances this spring are Dover’s Jakwon Kilby (triple jump, 47-3), Cape Henlopen’s Baily Fletcher (pole vault, 14-8) and Sussex Academy’s Max Rail (shot put, 48-1).
•On the girls’ side, Smyrna’s Aaliyah Turpin has the best time in the 100-meter hurdles (14.74).
•The DIAA state championship meets are scheduled for next Friday and Saturday at Dover High.
