By Erik Harris
TRUSSVILLE – The Alabama high school Super All-State Track and Field Team was announced over the weekend, and one area athlete made the list.
Hewitt-Trussville junior Jaison Williams was one of 15 honorees to land on the boys’ team. The girls’ team also featured 15 athletes, none of which are from the Tribune coverage area.
Hewitt-Trussville state champion Jaison Williams. submitted photo
“It took a lot of hard work, a lot of effort and a lot of dedication to get to where I am now, so I just have to keep going at it,” said Williams.
Williams, a state record holder in the discus throw, finished No. 1 in his preferred event at the AHSAA state meet in Gulf Shores last month. His toss of 46.99 meters beat Huntsville’s Dontavius Jowers by .92 meters.
His best throw of the season came on April 10 at the Mountain Brook Invitational. Although he says nothing felt different that day, the junior found enough strength to put the disc 51.53 meters down the field, a distance no athlete in Alabama could match all season.
“Once I released it, I knew it was going out there,” said Williams. “I knew it was going to be a great throw.”
The year didn’t start smoothly for the eventual state champion. Williams admits to having a slow start based on a sluggish offseason, but credits coach David Dobbs for getting him back in competitive shape.
“At the begging of the season I felt like I had a slump, because I didn’t practice in the offseason as much as I needed to, but we have a great coach and great preparation, so that helped me out a lot,” said Williams.
That slow start wasn’t repaired in a day. According to Williams, it took hours of work and fine-tuning to get back where he wanted to be.
“(It took) working on technique, hours and hours of technique,” said Williams. “I would just keep going, even when I didn’t want to go.”
He knows 2015-2016 will present a whole new slate of obstacles, and that’s what motivates him to work harder this offseason.
“(I need to) work harder than I did last year, and hopefully come back with two state titles next year,” said Williams. “I feel like there will be more competition next year.”
When he’s not on the track, Williams is usually inside it with the Hewitt-Trussville football team. As an outside linebacker, fullback and track star, Williams aspires to be a two-sport athlete in college.
“I’m hoping to get a track scholarship, but I’m also hoping to go with football,” said Williams. “If I get an opportunity to do both, then I’ll do both.”
