ATHENS — Bill Waters Jr. saved his best for last.
Competing at the GHSA Class A Division I boys state track meet, May 12 at the University of Georgia’s Spec Towns Track in Athens, Putnam County senior Bill Waters capped a steady three-year climb to the top by winning the high jump with a personal-best clearance of 6 feet, 6.5 inches.
It was a fitting finish for an athlete who has progressed from sixth place as a sophomore, to third as a junior, and finally to state champion in his senior campaign.
For Waters, the moment carried both satisfaction and a tinge of finality.
“It’s a big accomplishment in high school,” Waters said. “It’s my last year, so it was going to hurt because I knew it was my last time doing it. But I’m proud of myself for coming in first.”
The jump itself carried extra weight beyond the medal. Waters dealt with a nagging knee injury throughout the season, forcing him to balance recovery with preparation in the days leading up to the meet. Even so, he managed to peak when it mattered most.
“It felt good,” he said of his performance. “I’d been prepping all week, working on getting my knee right, making sure I could do my best and stay healthy enough to jump.”
The meaning of the climb from contender to champion was also not lost on him.
“It was a big accomplishment,” Waters said. “That’s what I wanted when I first started track: first place. That’s the only thing I’m looking for. So that was really big for me, going from sixth to third to first in three years.”
Putnam County head coach Kedric Manning, who was also Waters’ position coach on the football team for the past four seasons, said the senior’s finish was the culmination of years of persistence through adversity.
“So, it just couldn’t have worked out any more perfectly than that,” Manning said. “He battled a nasty knee injury, which I think he suffered during basketball season. I think he played through it like he does everything else, but it really took a toll on him around the region meet. But I couldn’t be more proud of him. As a coaching staff, we watched him literally crawl from the bottom.
“It’s a beautiful time right now in Putnam track,” the coach added.
Waters has been a multi-sport contributor for Putnam County. While his track career ends with a championship, he hinted at continuing his athletic journey at the next level, potentially in football.
Beyond the medals and marks, Waters pointed to the people around him as a key part of his development, particularly his coach at Putnam County.
“He’s had a very big impact,” Waters said of Manning. “Anytime I had a question or a problem, I would always go to him. He would give me advice and stuff like that. He was pretty much a mentor to me.”
As for what he would tell younger athletes chasing similar goals, Waters kept it simple.
“Just stick with it,” he said. “It will show in the long term. Just stick with it and keep balling.”