Benson's Micah Williams Ready For Test At Arcadia

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Micah Williams knows he can't rest on his laurels. 

The junior from Portland's Benson Tech, who captured the national title in the 60 meters at New Balance Nationals Indoor with a No. 3 all-time 6.60 seconds, knows that the outdoor season presents a whole new set of challenges. 

Williams will travel to Los Angeles for this weekend's 52nd Arcadia Invitational, where he will compete in the 100 meters and 200 meters. In the 200, he faces the daunting task of taking on Bullis MD's Ashton Allen. 

ARCADIA INVITATIONAL - Watch the live Webcast of the meet Friday and Saturday.

It's an opportunity for Williams to compete in favorable weather conditions against high-caliber competition, something he won't see much of in Oregon. 

Williams is already on the cusp of the all-time Oregon high school records in the 100 and 200 and he is hoping that he can lower his 2018 personal bests of 10.37 and 21.19.

The meet records in both events belong to T.C. Williams VA graduate Noah Lyles, who ran 10.17 and 20.48 in 2016. Austin Kratz of Dock Mennonite Academy PA ran 10.34 and 20.74 to sweep both events last year. 

"I've been doing a lot of conditioning and a lot running to get myself in shape for this meet," Williams said of Arcadia. 

Williams returned to Portland after his victory in New York and quickly got re-adjusted for outdoor track. He opened his season by running a 400 meters in 48.02 seconds -- a three-second PR. To save his body for particular races in the 100 this spring, Williams has been running 400s as a way to build endurance and strength.

On Wednesday, he competed in the 4x200 and the 4x400 for Benson at the PIL Relays at Wilson High. 

None of his races outside have held the significance that Arcadia will. 

Williams took note of Matthew Boling's big weekend at Texas Relays. The two were U.S. teammates last summer at the World U-20 Championships in Finland. 

"He's a beast, that's all I gotta say," Williams said. 

Maybe Williams will put his name high into the national rankings with a strong showing at Arcadia. 

"I'm trying to do bigger and better things (than NBNI)," Williams said. "A little kid from Oregon has got to work harder than everyone else, because all the odds are against him."