Injury-plagued Williams, after winning 2A long jump title, has smile back

After suffering two serious mouth injuries the past two seasons in basketball, there have been times where Black HIlls High School junior Maisy Williams hasn’t even been physically able to smile.

The smile she had Saturday after winning the Class 2A girls state championship in the long jump more than made up for it.

Williams came into the event as the top-ranked 2A girl in the event, and backed it up by winning the championship with a mark of 17 feet, 8 1/2 inches.

“It’s a feeling like no other,” Williams said. “I feel blessed.”

Williams had two days to prepare for the long jump finals after finishing as the runner-up in the high jump Thursday.

She set the winning mark in her first attempt of the day Saturday, and watched as her opponents failed in their attempts to surpass her.

“Going into (the long jump) I was ranked first, and I felt like I had to defend that a little more,” Williams said. “To me, long jump has always been fun, and that was fun and competitive, which it’s good to find the balance.”

Williams’ first- and second-place finishes also helped the Wolves finish fourth in the 2A team competition with 33 points. Fife won the 2A title with 45 points.

Williams has showed resilience in coming back from getting a tooth knocked out at the 2017 2A state basketball tournament in Yakima, and having her jaw wired shut after taking a knee to the face in a basketball jamboree game last fall.

After missing most of the regular season, she returned for the playoffs, then focused her attention on the upcoming track season.

“It’s hard to get back up sometimes, but now, knowing what success feels like, it’s not as hard,” Williams said. “Knowing that I can do it, and that I have done it and that I’ll do it again, it’s easier.

“It feels like it’s finally been paying off. I work hard and I have confidence in my abilities, and I feel like now there isn’t a curve ball thrown in."

Williams' teammate, Black Hills sophomore Sir Carter, placed third in the 300-meter hurdles, finishing with a time of 39.95 seconds — just behind Franklin Pierce senior Tyrell Edge, who won the 2A title in 38.93.

The W.F. West boys 4x200 relay team, which includes junior Carver Breenan and seniors Carson Brown, Isaiah Dunn and Charles Johnson, was the runner-up in the event with a time of 3:24.26. Cheney won it at 3:22.39.

In 4A boys, Olympia's Chase Suting was the runner-up in the 400 at 49.65.

1A/2B/1B TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mary M. Knight junior Kaylee Sowle finished an impressive trip to Eastern Washington University in Cheney by winning two 1B state titles Saturday, bringing her meet total to four.

Sowle, who defended her high jump and triple long titles earlier in the week, won the 100 at 13.35.

She also defended her triple jump title at 32-2 1/4.

The Northwest Christian girls successfully defended their 2B team title, edging Saint George’s, 70-64.

Navigators senior Eliana Summers won the 2B girls 800 (2:20.63), while senior Ava Shackell took second (2:22.32).

Senior Megan McSheffrey finished third in the 400 (1:00.66) and 300 hurdles (46.37).

The Navigators’ 4x400 relay team of Jacalyn Tague, Summers, Tosin Faleke and McSheffrey took second at 4:07.48.

Rainier’s Ethan McFarland was the runner-up in the 2B boys triple jump at 41-8 1/2, while Brody Klein took third in the pole vault at 12-6, and Cameron Wagner was third in the discus at 140-3.

Pope John Paul II (38 points) tied for third in the 1B boys team competition with Trout Lake.

Eagles senior Jack Farrell was the runner-up in the 1B boys 800 (2:01.88).

Junior Caden Deutsche was the runner-up in the 3,200 (10:29.48).

Staff writer Lauren Smith contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 26, 2018 at 7:58 PM with the headline "Injury-plagued Williams, after winning 2A long jump title, has smile back."