Sophomore sprinter Umajesty Williams has had quite the journey since arriving on campus in the fall of 2017.
 
Williams got off to a good start in his collegiate career, earning second place in the 400-meter dash at the Pac-12 Championships as a freshman and would go on to qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary Round his event. The Phoenix native holds the Arizona 400-meter dash freshman record with a time of 46.15, which is No. 6 on the Cats' all-time list.
 

"Magic" Maj Williams just set the Arizona freshman 400-meter dash record with a mark of 46.14?? The freshman moves to No. 3 on the NCAA list with his new PR & No. 5 on Arizona's all time list?? #BearDown #BeLezoLike pic.twitter.com/LCvA8FUWaz

— Arizona Track & Field (@ArizonaTrack) March 24, 2018

After a freshman season that had constant improvement, Williams ran a time of 45.96 in the 400-meter dash to finish second at the USA Junior Championships. The mark would qualify him for the Team USA Jr. National Team, and punched his ticket to compete in Tampere, Finland at the IAAF World Jr. Championships.
 
"It was cool," said Williams. "First we had to run trials in Indiana to qualify for the USA Team. I finished second in that running my PR, 45.96.  Going to Finland was interesting to say the least.  I had never been out of the country, much less overseas. It was definitely quite the experience to go overseas to such a far place."
 


Competing in the IAAF World U-20 Championships reminded him that the only difference between people is how they look.
 
"It gives me the confidence to know that I have the capability, the ability, and the mentality to compete with these other athletes," said Williams. "The only difference between us is that we look different."
 
Williams got off to a hot start in 2019, improving his indoor PR in the 400-meter dash in his first outing.
 
"This year I'm shooting for the Pac-12 titles in the 400 and the 200," said Williams. "That's going to require a lot of work, but I'm ready for it. It's going to hurt, but that's what I signed up for."
 
Williams and the Cats will play host in the 2019 Pac-12 Championships on May 11th & 12th at Roy P. Drachman Stadium. Last year, Williams amassed 22 points, highlighted by a first-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay in dramatic fashion.
 

Washington ?? Egbo ?? Sincukovs ?? Williams

The Men's 4x400-meter relay squad takes the Pac-12 ??!!#BearDown #BeLezoLike pic.twitter.com/qfVedECtSc

— Arizona Track & Field (@ArizonaTrack) May 14, 2018

 
"I think about that every day," Williams said. "We usually run pretty well at the track here and it's crazy that the conference championships is at our home. There's no way I can ever give up or get tired. Its our home, I got to defend."