George Jenkins' Williams adds to her gold medal haul with 2 more state titles at state track

LAKELAND — George Jenkins junior Chelsi Williams was about 100 meters from winning three events at one state track for the first time in her stellar career when she did something for the first time in her career. She clipped a hurdle coming out of the final turn in the 400-meter hurdles.

So instead of three gold medals, Williams had to settle for two.

Williams continued her streak of winning two state titles at the state track meet, winning the 100 hurdles and triple jump Saturday at the 2024 FHSAA Class 4A State Track and Field Championships at the University of North Florida.

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With one year to go in her high school career, Williams has eight state titles in four years, beginning with the two she won as an eighth-grader at McKeel. In Polk County history, Williams trails only former Lake Wales star Octavious Freeman, who graduated with 10 state titles.

"I'm just glad that I am here because I was hurt this year," Williams said. "So I'm really glad I won the 100 hurdles."

Williams clocked in at 13.64 seconds to win that event, beating Creekside's Brittney Jennings by four-tenths of a second. She then jumped 38 feet, 10.5 inches on her first triple jump attempt to capture her second gold medal. Winning those events was the minimum of what she wanted to do as they are her best two events.

"I think I expected to be faster (in 100 hurdles), but I'm just glad I defended my title," Williams said.

Adding to the degree of difficulty was a lightning delay that put the field events behind schedule. Williams expected to compete in the triple jump then have a break before the start of the 100 hurdles. Instead, the second flight of the triple jump was starting just as 100 hurdles was about to begin. Williams ran the hurdles then she and four other athletes returned to the triple jump.

"I think I could have broke 12 (meters) with the way I was feeling before the hurdles, so I definitely feel I could have done better," Williams said. Her jump in meters was 11.85.

Still, her first jump put her in the lead over Sanford Seminole's Oluwadara Soremi, who had completed her four jumps. None of the other hurdlers who were completing the triple jump with her challenged her.

Williams' day began in the long jump — an event she practices least — where she was the defending champion. Williams jumped 19-6.25 to finish third behind Olympia's Omaria Gordon (20-9) and Winter Haven's Dashanique Henry (19-8.25).

Henry and Williams were 1-2 after the second round, with Williams jumping 19-4.25. Henry passed on her third attempt before Gordon jumped into the lead with a mark of 20-5.75.

Henry then made an attempt in the final round of jumps but could not catch Gordon. Willams had her best jump on her fourth attempt.

Williams ended up finishing 14th in the 400 hurdles after hitting a hurdle.

"I was running great," she said. "I never had that happen before (hitting the hurdles) in that event."

Despite the struggles with injury, Williams finished the season strong at county, districts and regionals before winning the two state titles. But she's already looking forward to her senior season.

"I can't wait to come back next year," she said.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: George Jenkins' Williams adds to her gold medal haul with 2 more state titles at state track