PREP TRACK & FIELD: Williamson DQ'd in 200 after placing fourth, following a third-place finish in 100 at 3A state meet

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  • Columbia sprinter James Williamson is pictured with his two medals after placing third in the 100m and fourth in the 200m at the Class 3A state meet on Friday at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium. (COURTESY)
    Columbia sprinter James Williamson is pictured with his two medals after placing third in the 100m and fourth in the 200m at the Class 3A state meet on Friday at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium. (COURTESY)
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JACKSONVILLE — James Williamson capped off his high school career with some hardware and broke his two school records in the process.

All on a sore hamstring too. Or so he thought.

Columbia’s senior sprinter placed third in the 100m and fourth in the 200m at the Class 3A state meet on Friday at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium. They were the first two medals of his career and he pushed through a hamstring injury that he aggravated at last week’s regional meet, but he was later disqualified late in the night in the 200m.

Williamson even went to the medal stand and received his medal in the 200m. But after the meet was over Williamson was disqualified from the event because he didn't show up to the starting line for the 400m, which was supposed to be his second race of the night that he chose not to run in order to rest his hamstring for the 200m.

The Florida High School Athletic Association requires every athlete to report in for each event they're listed in, even if that athlete doesn't finish it. Williamson failed to do so.

"He did not show for that race and that's why he was DQ'd," Columbia coach Lawrence Davis said. "They're not asking for the medal back because he actually did earn that, it's just a procedural issue. I talked to his parents and explained to them what happened. Even if he was not running in the 400, he needed to report in to the starter. Not to a meet official where you enter in. You've actually got to report to the starter and he didn't go to the starter.

"He could have started and just walked off."

Williamson was ecstatic after the races, believing he ended his career with two top-four finishes.

“I’m extremely excited,” Williamson said. “On a hurt hamstring, I’m just glad that I could push my way through. I prayed and asked God to help me throughout the race, so I feel good.

“I was kind of shocked how well I did on a hurt hamstring.”

Williams ran the 100m in 10.57 seconds to break his own school mark of 10.66 and then finished the 200m in 21.61 seconds to surpass his previous best of 21.75 seconds. He set both records earlier this season.

Terry Parker’s Aaron Bell won both races, finishing the 100m in 10.34 seconds and the 200m in 20.71 seconds.

“He should feel real proud," Davis said. “He had to deal with some adversity early in the season with his legs and he still isn’t perhaps 100%, but he did cap off a stellar senior season for him. We’re real proud of him.”

Williamson also qualified for state in the 400m but chose not to run it prior to the 200m in order to rest his hamstring. The 400m was sandwiched in between the 100m and 200m, with all three races scheduled within two hours of each other.

Kareem Ibraheem-Washington from Rickards won the 400m in 48.05 seconds. Williamson entered state off of a time of 49.09 seconds at regionals, which would have been good enough for fifth at state.

“I was kind of bummed,” Williamson said. “Looking at the times, I could have easily placed. But I was just trying to work out my hamstring and try not to get hurt again.”

The break paid off in the 200.

“I think the 200 is probably his best race,” Davis said. “With his leg not quite 100 percent, I think he did real good to get fourth overall.”

Seth Stockton placed 12th in the triple jump for Columbia, leaping 12.96 meters. The sophomore jumped 12.96m on his first and second attempts, but could never get further.

The third and final jumps saw Stockton leap 12.78m and 12.84m. Sergio Morancy from Lely won the event with a 14.43m jump.

“Seth did outstanding for a sophomore at the state meet,” Davis said. “We’re looking forward to Seth next year getting stronger, his technique getting better and I think he’s going to be a contender for state next year.”

This story was updated Saturday following the news of Williamson's disqualification in the 200m.