Putnam County junior Bill Waters had a strong showing in the high jump event at the Class 1A Division I track-and-field state meet at Barron Stadium in Rome.
Waters placed third with a jump of 6-feet, 4-inches behind Heard County’s Josiah Bonner and Dodge County’s Kyler Johnson.
Waters was excited about the progress he’s made and said last year’s sixth-place finish motivated him to work even harder.
“It feels amazing. I had been working hard all season for that moment,” Waters said. “My coaches have pushed and motivated me to keep striving for greatness. I placed sixth last year, so that motivated me even more to go harder every day, knowing I can do better.”
Putnam County coach Kedric Manning said he was happy for Waters.
“I’m incredibly proud of Bill ‘Ice’ Waters for placing third,” Manning said. “His success didn’t happen overnight; it came from dedication, hard work, and a calm, focused mindset.
“Bill is earning his nickname with the way he handles pressure, and he leads by example. This achievement reflects not just his talent, but his character and perseverance. Watching him rise to this level has been inspiring, and I know this is only the beginning of his greatness.”
Waters finished two inches ahead of Lamar County’s Ross Hamrick, who defeated him at the Region 4 championships in April and the state sectional meet two weeks ago. He was happy to finally come out on top.
“It was a statement that I had to prove,” Waters admitted after finally defeating his region rival. “I didn’t want him to beat me again.”
Waters showed improvement at each competition over the last few weeks. He placed third at the region championship meet with a jump of 6-feet. He also placed third at the state sectional meet with a mark of 6-feet, 2-inches.
“I constantly worked at practice, not leaving the track without hitting a certain height,” Waters said. “Recovery is also a big thing, making sure my body is healthy also plays a part in it.”
Waters said he considers this season to be a huge success, and he can’t wait for his senior campaign. He has set the bar high for his final year as a War Eagle.
“It was an outstanding season and I’m aiming for 6-feet, 8-inches next season,” Waters said. “Walking up on the podium felt as if I just accomplished something really big. Going from sixth to third in the state is really big.”