GIRLS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Monroe’s Jahari Williams

ALBANY — The thought of failing has always been in the back of Jahari Williams’ mind.

The track & field star used it as motivation throughout her career at Monroe High School, but it played an even bigger role this year. After sustaining an injury before last year’s state track & field meet, Williams went into this year pledging to leave it all on the track.

Just before the state meet, Williams was once again hurt, but she refused to let another injury bring her down. She helped lead Monroe to its first title since 2012, and her performance garnered her the Johnny Seabrooks Female Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

“I kind of let myself down when I got hurt again this year,” Williams said. “I didn’t want to leave Monroe without them remembering me. I hope nobody can say that I didn’t work hard or that I didn’t try my best.”

Williams also used her mom, who has cancer, as motivation to keep going.

“Everything I did on the track was for me and my mom,” she said. “She told me that me running track is really what is keeping her happy in life. I just remember that.”

This is the second time in her career that Williams was named Track & Field Athlete of the Year. She also earned the award after her sophomore season.

Williams took the state title in long jump with a jump of 19-feet, eight-inches. It was the second time that she won the long jump championship after winning during her sophomore year.

During the state meet, Williams came in second in the 100 meters and 200 meters, but she broke her own personal record when she ran a 23.82 in the 200.

“I never thought I would be able to run that quickly,” she said. “I also did that when I had a strained hamstring.”

Her biggest contributions during this year’s state meet came during the 4×100-meter relay and 4×400-meter relay. She was the anchor for Monroe’s ‘A’ team in the events, both of which the Lady Tornadoes took first place in.

“This year was hard, but in a way it was easy,” Williams said. “It was hard because I kept getting injured. That happened my 11th-grade year and also this year. I competed very well, but it wasn’t up to what I wanted to do sometimes.”

In addition to her state titles, Williams also racked numerous titles during regular season. She took the long jump title at the Westover Relays and the 100- and 200-meter titles at the L.C. Smith/Winfred Benson Relays.

At the Region 1-AAAA meet, Williams took the region title in the long jump and 100- and 200-meter dash.

Williams leaves Monroe having racked up seven state titles (two in long jump, one in 100 meters, one in 200 meters, one in the 4×100-meter relay and two in the 4×400-meter relay).

“When you win one, it just makes you want to work harder for more,” she said.