“If you’re the top sprinter in Texas, you generally enjoy the same popularity as the state’s top quarterback and that’s the distinction Jelani Watkins earned this spring. While he’s the latest in a long line of dash standouts from the Lone Star State, he and his teammates truly earned nationwide appreciation by smashing the national record in the 4x100 relay. That makes you popular across the map.”

Rich Gonzalez

editor for PrepCalTrack.com

Athletic Excellence

The 5-foot-10, 161-pound senior sprinter broke the tape in the 100-meter dash at the UIL Class 6A state meet, clocking a personal-best time of 10.19 seconds, which ranked No. 2 nationally among boys prep competitors and No. 23 in prep history. Watkins PR’d and took gold in the 200 in 20.60—the nation’s No. 5 time in 2024. He also anchored the Eagles 4x100 relay quartet this spring as the group became the first high school foursome to run sub-39 in the event, clocking a national-record time of 38.92 in March to break a 26-year-old mark by close to a second.

Academic Achievement

Watkins has maintained a 3.12 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a national letter of intent to compete on an athletic scholarship at Louisiana State University this fall.

Exemplary Character

A member of his school’s Student Athlete Leadership Council, Watkins has volunteered locally by enlisting the help from teammates to assemble personal hygiene care kits, blankets and hot meals for the homeless community in the Houston area. He also has donated his time mentoring elementary students throughout the school year and at Summerwood Elementary Field Day.