Brayden Williams made track and field history during the preliminary round of the Class 6A Region II meet in Texas on Friday. However, his mind-boggling run comes with an important caveat.
He had some help from the wind at his back.
Williams, currently committed to compete in track and field at the University of Georgia, is a second-semester senior at Duncanville High School in Texas. The 18-year-old sprinter specializes in the 100-meter and will be one of the favorites — if not the favorite — to win the state championship this weekend.
Williams just became the fourth high school runner to go sub-10 seconds in the 100 last month. Thus, there are high expectations for his performance during the postseason, if you will.
Friday was the preliminary round of the 100 in the regional round of the state championships. It was the best run of his life.
Williams crossed the finish line with an official time of 9.82 seconds. He was moving. Don’t blink!
Sayyyyyyyyy boyyyyyyyy @Braywilliams_1 @Duncanville_TF 9.82 pic.twitter.com/kl0LPobzdv
— Coach GREEN (@DaRealCoachG) April 18, 2025
At face value, Williams’ run was the fastest 100-meter time by any high schooler in history. Matthew Boling ran a 9.98. Two-time Olympian Trayvon Bromell ran a 9.99. Christian Miller went 9.93, 9.95 and 9.98 last year.
There is a very important stipulation involved with Brayden Williams’ historic run on Friday compared to the times of Miller. Miller ran the fastest wind-legal time by a high schooler in history. Williams had some help from behind.
The wind reading was recorded at +6.0. That is well above the maximum wind reading of +2.0 that makes a race wind-legal. His time is not eligible for state or national records.
When adjusted for wind, Brayden Williams ran closer to 10.18 with +0.0 or 9.88 at +2.0. Somewhere around there— which would still be the fastest wind-legal time in history if converted at +2.0.
While it is important to note the difference in the wind, Williams set the all-conditions record. That should not be discredited. It will be even better if he can follow it up with a similar time in the next rounds to silence all of the haters!