Cleveland Williamson: Jumping to Success

For Cleveland Williamson, track and field wasn’t always the goal—it was simply a way to improve at football. “I originally started running track in seventh grade to get faster and continued it in eighth grade because I wanted to be fast enough for high school football,” he said. But what started as a way to gain speed quickly became a passion. Now, as a standout long jumper for McAlester High School, Williamson is chasing records and pushing himself to new heights.

His motivation still comes from football, but he credits several key figures for influencing his journey in track. “Football inspired me to run track because I wanted to get faster and stay in shape, and I fell in love with it. My biggest influence is our coach Williams, coach Capps, and Dalante Redway,” he said. Their guidance has shaped him into a dedicated athlete, both in training and in competition.

With part of the track team still finishing basketball and wrestling seasons, Williamson sees room for even stronger team chemistry as the season progresses. “So far, the team’s chemistry is pretty good, and we still don’t have our full team. Some are still in basketball and wrestling, so I’m looking forward to getting everyone together and taking our chemistry to the next level,” he shared.

As a long jumper, preparation is key. “My specific role is long jump, and to prepare for it, you have to consistently take care of your legs. That consists of multiple ice baths, cryotherapy, and foam rollers,” he explained. His focus this season is to make history. “My goals for this season are to beat our school record, and I hope to make it and win state.”

His most humbling experience came during his freshman year when he fell short at state. “The most challenging moment was losing at state my freshman year. It was a very humbling experience, and it made me not take anything for granted. I realized if I want to be the best, I have to work like the best,” he said.

Williamson hopes to continue his athletic career at the next level. “I plan on going to college and playing football and chasing after a degree. I haven’t really decided what though,” he said. No matter where he ends up, his work ethic and competitive mindset will surely carry him to success.