OTC Elite’s Williams takes US high jump title with third attempt clearances

ALBUQUERQUE – It took two third-attempt clearances for 2011 World Champion Jesse Williams to win the USA Indoor high jump title on Saturday at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

It was the OTC Elite athlete’s third straight national title.

“I’ve been jumping too much lately,” a tired Williams’ said following the event. “I had four competitions in the last two weeks, and I’ve been jumping a lot in practice lately.”

It took even more jumps for Williams to win on Saturday, as he was forced to clear bars at 2.26 and 2.29 meters to eventually defeat runner-up Jaime Nieto.

“I haven’t lost a U.S. championship in three years, so I just wanted to win,” Williams said. “I had two third attempts, but I pulled it out and I know when I’m in good shape that’s going to come in handy.”

Williams will now head to Turkey for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, March 9-11. In his past appearances at World Indoors, Williams placed fifth in 2010 and sixth in 2008.

Also for OTC Elite, in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, Ashton Eaton placed third in his first-round heat with a time of 7.66 seconds. Eaton, was happy with certain parts of his race, but not with his time.

“No, I’m not happy. I wanted a PR,” he said. “But physically, I felt really good. I was nervous in the blocks, but I was relaxed, and it was one of my best starts. I felt good over the second hurdle, but then I saw (David) Oliver and I sped up and tagged hurdle three.”

Oliver won the heat in 7.60.

Eaton’s personal best of 7.60 was set last February in Tallinn, Estonia – during his world-record setting heptathlon performance. Eaton will compete in his first full heptathlon at the World Indoor Championships.

“We’ve been working on his blocks and first-hurdle technique and Ashton’s execution was tremendous,” coach Harry Marra said. “He could’ve been more aggressive, but I think it was a good set up for Turkey.”

Before Eaton heads overseas, he’ll compete in one more tune-up event: the men’s long jump on Sunday at 11:10 a.m. PT. He won’t race in the final of the hurdles today, due to a time conflict with the long jump.

OTC teammate Russell Brown will also be in action on Sunday, taking on the nation’s best in the men’s 1,500 meters at 1:45 p.m.

Becky Radliff

becky.otcelite@gmail.com