Nicc Williams nearly walked away from the triple jump before his career truly began.
His high school coach convinced him to compete in one final meet, promising to let him stop if things didn’t go well.
Instead, Williams broke his school’s record.
“So I was like, all right, now I got to do it,” Williams said.
Now a junior at the University at Buffalo, Williams continues to compete in the triple jump while double majoring in political science and media study.
“I don’t even consider myself really good yet,” Williams said. “I just think I have a lot of potential to be good in this event.”
The triple jump combines speed, strength and technique, with athletes performing three consecutive movements before landing in a sandpit.
Williams believes spectators underestimate the physical demands of the event.
“You’re literally turning yourself into a gazelle,” Williams said. “It’s just harder than it looks.”
While the event demands intense physical preparation — hurdle hops, weighted lunges and full body strength training — Williams approaches competition with a relaxed attitude. Even disappointing performances rarely change his outlook. Williams views unsuccessful jumps as opportunities to improve on his next attempt.
“I try to be happy,” Williams said. “I’ve tried to be serious and it hasn’t gone well.”
That attitude carries over to his relationship with teammates.
Williams describes UB’s jumps group as a family, emphasizing the support he receives from teammates and coaches both during competition and in his personal life.
“We get it done together,” Williams said. “We’re all here to push each other.”
As Williams looks toward his final year at UB, his ambitions extend beyond athletic records.
More than anything, he hopes teammates remember the energy he brought to the program.
“You go up to Nicc, like, now I’m having a good day,” Williams said.
Will Meyer is the senior sports editor and can be reached at will.meyer@ubspectrum.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
