Athletes to Keep an Eye On: Jesse Williams, by Kevin Mangan, note by Larry Eder

Kevin Mangan sent me this piece on one of the athletes he admires, Jesse Williams, the 2011 WC in the high jump. Kevin thinks Jesse Williams will be one of the athletes to watch in Des Moines. Jesse has had some injury issues in 2013, but this guy knows how to compete.

While I was in Eugene, Oregon in April, writing about Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen, I observed him working out a bit in Eugene. Always a class act, Jesse Williams is the defending champion in the high jump from Daegu, Korea.

Jesse Williams,

photo by PhotoRun.net

Athletes to Keep an Eye On: Jesse Williams

by Kevin Mangan

Every event in Des Moines will be an absolute joy to watch. Every team will be incredibly difficult to make. But there are some particular athletes that deserve particular attention.

Jesse Williams

Jesse Williams is looking to get back to the top of the high jump world, but it’s higher than when he left it. Even though he has the wild card as the defending champion, Jesse Williams will be looking to have a great meet in Des Moines. He has been struggling recently and his high jump throne was taken as soon as he got on it. An ankle injury has held him back a bit this year. Not only has he been unable to be much of a factor on the world stage, but after 2011 he has played third fiddle to Erik Kynard and Jamie Nieto in the American High Jump ranks. At his last meet, the Pre Classic, he made a third attempt clearance at the opening height of 2.16 (7-1) and then missed three times at the next bar. He was clearly not himself and was overshadowed by the trio of young guns Barshim, Kynard and Drouin who all medaled at the Olympics last year. In fact at every meet he has competed in this year he has jumped slightly to significantly lower than he did in 2011 or 2012. During the 2011 outdoor season he failed to jump 2.30 or higher only once before the World Championships in Daegu. He also set his PB of 2.37 to win the National Championship that summer. This year he has only jumped over 2.30 once, with his 2.31 at Mt Sac. Williams will be looking overcome his ankle troubles to get back to being a consistent 2.30+ jumper. In 2011, that’s what it took to be the best in the world, but this year it will probably be higher. Fortunately he earned the wild card, so he’ll have another two months to get his ankle fixed and his championship form back.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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