A Broughton High School graduate and former North Carolina High School Athletic Association champion has added a major award to his list of achievements.

According to the Raleigh News and Observer, Jesse Williams cleared seven feet, eight and one-half inches in the IAAF World Championships in South Korea to win the title.

Williams became the first American high jumper to win the world championship since 1991. He is a two-time U.S. outdoor champion who won the 2008 Olympic trials but did not qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

Williams has a career best of seven feet, nine and one-quarter inches. He won the NCHSAA 4-A high jump title three times, from 2000 through 2002, and still holds the state 4-A record with a jump of 7-2, although it is no longer the overall state record.

The former Broughton star now lives and trains in Eugene, Oregon.