Krystian Williams runs and jumps like he has rockets in his sneakers and coils in his knees.

The 16-year-old sophomore at Collegiate School has arrived far ahead of schedule into the track and field winner’s circle.

And the best news of all, he’s just warming up.

“Oh my goodness, Krystian has really solid potential. It’s exciting,” said Cougars Coach Brent Miller.

Collegiate’s 2020 track season was canceled due to the pandemic, meaning Williams lost his entire freshman season.

If that was a stumbling block, it hasn’t shown. He arrived at full stride this spring as a sophomore on a mission.

The 6-foot-2, 165-pound son of Veronica Williams and Rodney Hounshell only needed three meets this spring to break Collegiate’s long jump record.

Competing April 24 on Collegiate’s synthetic track and runways, Williams won four events individually and assisted in two victorious relays in a dual meet against arch-rival St. Christopher’s School.

It was Williams’ oh-my-gosh 23-4 long jump that sent statisticians scurrying to the record books.

“The outcome wasn’t expected, but it felt great,” Williams said. “Our coaches had me well prepared with jumping drills and working in the weight room.”

The 23-4 was more than four feet farther than the runner-up.

“I did a double take,” Coach Miller said in viewing the long leap. “We measured it a couple of times.”

The effort toppled the Cougars’ all time mark of 22-11 set indoors in 2020 by Donald Adams.

Before Adams, the record of 22-6 was set by David Shannon in 1982.

Shannon is the son of Dr. David T. Shannon, the president of Virginia Union University from 1979 to 1985.

Williams, who has been enrolled at Collegiate since kindergarten, said he knew by the time he was 2 or 3 that he might be “ahead of everyone else.”

“I could tell when I started playing flag football,” he added.

The record long jump was just the start of Williams’ memorable day in spikes. He also won the triple jump (43-5.5), the high jump (5-10) and 100 meters (11.44) while racing a leg on the triumphant 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

“Definitely the best day in track I’ve ever had,” he said.

Williams hails from an athletic family. His father, Rodney Hounshell, caught 157 passes for 2,590 yards and 19 touchdowns during a VUU football career from 1990 to 1992. His mother, Veronica Williams, was a standout track athlete at Marshall-Walker High School.

Krystian’s brother, Rodney Hounshell Jr., grew up in Oregon and is currently a basketball standout at Hawai’i Pacific University in Honolulu.

Collegiate has a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning program on campus. In addition, Williams trains under Leonard Hopkins, a former track and football star at Marshall-Walker High and Norfolk State University.

There’s a lot more to Williams’ athletic resume than track and field. He is also an aspiring football wide receiver and high-leaping basketball wing.

“My main goal is just to improve,” Williams said. “Looking ahead, I want to make it to the next level, hopefully in football, but track is another option.”

Collegiate’s “Rocket Man” has lifted off in dramatic style. It will be interesting to follow his flight and see where he eventually lands.