Williamsport wasn’t able to have a single athlete reach the podium last spring at states despite a number of talented athletes competing.

Consider this year a redemption year for Williamsport and every Millionaire heading to states wants to reach the podium.

“I think everybody here is out for that state medal. We all know we didn’t have a good state meet last year, that’s always been the overlaying goal this season is we gotta get back there, we gotta compete and we gotta get back on the podium,” Williamsport’s Alex Takach said. “We gotta put Williamsport on the map again. That’s been the main goal for all of us this year.”

And Williamsport is hoping its three boys state qualifiers can reach the podium and PR.

Tevin Williams of Williamsport celebrates his gold medal during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Takach is one of three Williamsport boys athletes competing. Takach won district gold in the 100. In the 110 hurdles, Williamsport’s Kye Diakite is heading to Shippensburg and Williamsport’s Tevin Williams is a three-event qualifier, going in the 400, high jump and long jump.

Diakite ran a time of 15.05 to win the boys Class AAA 110 hurdles at districts, beating out Shikellamy’s Maddox Hoover (15.37) and Selinsgrove’s Matthew Stebila (15.40). And he’s glad to have one more meet left in his career before the senior heads to Lock Haven University.

“It means everything. I’m moving on in my track career and going to Lock Haven, so it means everything that I can compete right now and be running up there next year,” Diakite said.

The Class AAA 110 hurdles at states features outstanding competition, and Diakite knows it’ll push him to run his best. That’s what happened Saturday after getting off to a not great start in the race, Diakite righted the ship and won it down the stretch.

“I just had to be more aggressive and attack every hurdle like it was going to be my last race,” Diakite said. “Looking back, it could have been.”

And Diakite is glad he isn’t the lone Millionaire going either.

“I mean, we give it all to our coaches. They train us to be the best and for competition. They give us all the support that we need,” Diakite said. “They’re doing it for us. They give us the tools and we put them to work.”

Like all of Williamsport’s track athletes, Takach is one as well who’s eyeing a trip to the podium.

“I mean today I consider I didn’t have my best race and this weather, we have not had a hot day all year so just getting acclimated to the hot weather throughout this next week at practice an getting ready for hopefully a hot Shippensburg,” Takach said. “I’m looking to medal. Last year it ended in disappointing fashion, so I’m ready to get back.”

Takach will run in the third heat of the Class AAA 100 prelims thanks to his district-winning time of 19.54. The fastest time entering states belongs to Bensalem’s Frank Bediako, who ran a 10.58 in the District 1 finals.

Diakite will run in the fourth heat of the 110 hurdles prelims. He ran a 15.05 to win district gold. Diakite knows he’ll need to put in a faster time in the prelims if he wants to reach the state finals as the top 23 runners in the field have a time of 14.98 or better with Cyrus Saunders of Neshaminy having run an impressive 13.79.

In the 400, Williams is seeded 20th with a time of 49.16. The top times belong to Downingtown West’s Olo Kolade (47.78) and Anthony McClatchy of Father Judge (48.03). Williams will run in the first heat of the prelims.

In the high jump, Williams is seeded 15th with a height of 6-5. The top height in the state belongs to St. Joseph’s Noah Popp with a height of 6-10.

Williams has the second-best height in the long jump in the state with a leap of 24-2. He’s behind only Meadville’s Tymir Phillips, who has a distance of 24-6 1/2.

What’s Williams expectations at states?

“25 and come out with gold,” he said with a laugh.

Williams enjoys the competition in the event as well.

“They push me really well. There’s a lot of things they’re better than me at like form wise and everything,” Williams said. “They teach me little things at practice, which builds onto everything all the athleticism that I have.”