Seth Williamson does everything fast.
Run. Walk. Talk. Even learn.
These are some of the reasons this 7-year-old has earned the title of “Fastest Kid in the Nation.”
That, and he’s also the back-to-back winner of the 100m dash at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Track and Field National Championships.
“It’s pretty cool being (the Fastest Kid in the Nation),” the tiny Wesley Chapel speedster said, humbly. “I do like telling people that, sometimes, but I like running fast — faster than my friends, but I don’t like beating them. I want to run with my friends sometimes.”
Williamson held onto his 100-meter dash, and Fastest Kid in the Nation, title when, on July 10 at the AAU Primary National Championships at Doctor Phillips High in Orlando, he left his competition in the dust with a 15-second finish time. He would also finish fifth in the 200 meter (31.93) and second in the long jump (3.59 meters).
“It was a lot of fun to compete (in the championships) again,” Williamson said. “It was fun to go over there and go all over (the place) to run track. I was really happy to win again.”
Williamson, for nearly two years now, trains with Speed Starz Track/Running Club — a Wesley Chapel-based program that teaches athletes of all ages the basic fundamentals of running. The club uses professional and advanced running techniques and drills. BeBe Roberts leads the club that has worked with numerous elementary, middle and high school athletes in Pasco County who excel in track and field and other sports.
However, when Williamson showed up on his first day, Roberts — a former track star himself — saw the raw talent and potential.
“When he came to me at 6, during the practice sessions, I put him with the 8- and 9-year-olds, and he was beating some of them! This kid is only 6 and on the track for nearly the first time and beating kids that are much older than him, so I knew this kid is going to be something serious in track and field.
“He is way ahead of the game right now.”
Williamson is ahead of the game — and a lot of other runners.
Roberts calls this little blur — whose nickname is The Flash, just like the comic book superhero — a quick study that’s on a whole other level.
“He picks up on everything real fast,” Roberts added. “I mean, some of the high school kids can’t pick up this stuff that fast, but not Seth. I tell him one thing, and he picks it up like that, and we’re talking about some advanced stuff.
“At his age, he’s on a Level 10 when other kids his age are at a Level 1. … It makes coaching him easy because even at the track meet (during the National Championships), I told him, at the 65-meter mark, ‘Stay high (with your head), keep your posture up, and he did — you can see it in the video, and he won.
“It (looks) like a professional (running).”
Williamson says he loves working with coach Roberts at Speed Starz.
“Coach BeBe is a good coach,” he said. “I like him a lot. He’s taught me how to have a fast start and how to have good form.”
Williamson showed his ability to learn quickly when he took on the long jump. Roberts said the young athlete didn’t practice the long jump much since “he’s a straight sprinter,” but still went out and placed well.
“He just went out there and got second in the nation,” Roberts said. “I mean, we get to the meet and then all of sudden, people are pointing him out and saying, ‘That kid right there — he’s the one to beat,’ and he was only fifth in the preliminaries (for the 100 meter). Everyone thought they had a shot on him, but then he surprised everyone.
“He’s a remarkable athlete — a fast learner and fast on the track, which is a great combo.”
Roberts said he’s “never seen someone this talented, this smart at (track), not at (Seth’s) age,” but also feels privileged to coach such a talented athlete at such a young age.
For Williamson, he’ll try to prove he’s not a flash in the pan — as fast as he can.
“Track is more easy (of a sport), since you can’t get hurt as often or as easily,” he said. “I like football and soccer, too, but I don’t play them. I just want to be on the track.
“I run everywhere, pretty fast, and I like running a lot.”
Speed Starz Track/Running Club
Details: Speed Starz Track/Running Club is a Christian-based track club in Wesley Chapel. It is designed to teach athletes of all ages the basic fundamentals of running, by using professional and advanced running techniques and drills. To see highlights of Seth Williamson accomplishments, visit his official Instagram account at @seth2flash.
Info: SpeedStarz.webflow.io/about
Published August 02, 2023
