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Briana Williams Runs 11.10 Seconds For 100m To Tie No. 2 Prep All-TimePublished by
Williams sets Jamaican U-20 and junior class national records with 11.10, equals Kaylin Whitney for No. 2 all-time prep performer By Todd Grasley for DyeStat South Florida star Briana Williams put Candace Hill’s national high school record of 10.98 seconds in the 100-meter dash on notice this weekend. Williams, 17, set a new personal best of 11.10 seconds (11.095 to be exact) to eclipse the Jamaican U-20 record at the JAC Open in Jacksonville, Fla. She also broke the 1976 junior class national record of 11.13 seconds held by another former star from the Jacksonville area, Jean Ribault High graduate Chandra Cheeseborough, who established a then World U-20 record when she placed second at age 17 at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. It matches the second-fastest time in high school history, equaling the 2014 mark by former East Ridge FL standout Kaylin Whitney, and is three one-hundredths faster than she ran to win the 2018 Bob Hayes Invitational (also in Jacksonville) and six hundredths faster than her gold medal-winning performance at the 2018 IAAF World U-20 Championships. Williams’ effort also moved past Norfolk State sophomore Kiara Grant, who ran a wind-legal 11.11 seconds May 4 at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships in Greensboro, N.C., to eclipse the Jamaican U-20 record of 11.12 held since 2000 by eight-time Olympic medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown. “First of all, I was really proud of myself,” she said. “I had a really good start and really good execution, but it felt more like an 11.3 or 11.4. But to see that I ran an 11.10 on such a hot day and not feeling my best, it tells me a lot about what is going to happen this season.”
In addition to her 11.10, Williams also ran a wind-legal 22.95 in the 200 meters. Next week she will head to the altitude of Albuquerque, N.M. for the Great Southwest Classic. Williams, who won both the 100 and 200 last year at GSW in 11.25 and 23.39, is ready for more fast times. “I expect a lot of altitude (benefit), so hopefully to set a new PR and hopefully do my best in the 100 and the 200,” Williams said. “I just hope to have a lot of fun and post great times.” Her coach, Trinidad & Tobago Olympian and track and field analyst Ato Boldon, believes “fast times” is an understatement and that Hill’s record is in play. “She is ready, but I knew that at Carifta,” he said. “My job now is like that of a jockey, knowing when to hold her back and when to really push her. It’s full speed ahead now until (Jamaican) Trials. We respect everyone, but are not scared of anyone.” After competing against high school age girls at the Great Southwest Classic, Williams will turn her focus to competing against Jamaica’s best senior women. “The goal is to hopefully make the top three in the 100 meters and in the 200 meters,” Williams said. “I can’t wait to run against them as well.”
Briana Williams’ 11.10 By The Numbers: - Jamaican Under-20 100-meter record - Williams now has every Jamaican youth and junior record: 100m/200m under-18 and under-20. - Junior class national 100-meter record - Broke the 1976 mark of 11.13 held by former World U-20 record holder Chandra Cheeseborough. - Equal to ninth-fastest 100-meter performer in the world this year. - Equals Kaylin Whitney for the second-fastest time ever run by a U.S. high schooler. - Equals Kaylin Whitney for the second-fastest 100 ever run by a U-18 girl. More news |
