Airline's Jayden Williams ran the fastest 800m time of any Louisiana underclassman during the LHSAA season at the Region 1-5A Championships in Natchitoches on Wednesday. The only underclassman who has run faster is St. Augustine's Karjuan Williams, who ran a 1:50.14 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals twenty years ago.
Williams might want to consider sending a West Monroe's Tytan Johnson a thank you card. It was the junior Rebel who took the early and commanding lead during the race. Johnson would lead the race for the first 750 meters. It was Williams' fitness and competitive fire which held him dig a little deeper and move past Johnson in the historic race.
Johnson's 1:52.56 is No. 4 on Louisiana's All-Time 800m list for juniors.
Airline distance coach Angel Turbow reminded Williams of the plan just before he stepped on the track.
"I told him to sit on the first place runner and overtake him on the last lap," Turnbow said. "And he did it perfectly,"
"Our quote this year was 'trust the process,'" Turnbow said. "He has prepared all year for competition season so that he is ready to race when it really matters."
West Monroe distance coach Dwain McDuffie couldn't be prouder of Johnson.
"He has been focused on setting the school record since his freshman year," McDuffie said. "You couldn't ask for a better student athlete."
Johnson's performance erases Larry Beebe's 1:53.3 back when 800m was measured in yards and was 880y.
Of course, Williams' time was an Airline school record. He breaks Jack Wilkes record of 1:52.15 which was set at the Mobile Meet of Champions 11 years ago.
The best part for track and field fans in Louisiana is that both runners are juniors and will battle it out again next year.
Williams and Johnson will take their show on the road to LSU's Bernie Moore Stadium where they will battle it out the 2025 LHSAA State Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, May 10th.
Airline's Jayden Williams ran the fastest 800m time of any Louisiana underclassman during the LHSAA season at the Region 1-5A Championships in Natchitoches on Wednesday. The only underclassman who has run faster is St. Augustine's Karjuan Williams, who ran a 1:50.14 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals twenty years ago.
Williams might want to consider sending a West Monroe's Tytan Johnson a thank you card. It was the junior Rebel who took the early and commanding lead during the race. Johnson would lead the race for the first 750 meters. It was Williams' fitness and competitive fire which held him dig a little deeper and move past Johnson in the historic race.
Johnson's 1:52.56 is No. 4 on Louisiana's All-Time 800m list for juniors.