Briana Williams: Jamaica’s Next Track Star
19-year-old Briana Williams has outdone herself by breaking her very own under 20 Jamaican record, as well as running a marvellous sub-11 seconds race. She accomplished the brilliant feat on Monday at the American Track League, Duval County challenge at the Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. This was the same place she had previously set her past U20, Jamaican sprint record.
Due to her performance trajectory since Sunday at the JAC Summer opening held on the same track, she was expected to run very well as she also clocked a time of 11.01 secs on that day. On Monday Briana participated in the prelims where she ran a wind-aided 10.97 seconds, then went on to finish out things in the final with the 10.98 seconds record.
Her coach Ato Bolden who is also a past Track athlete stated that what was done by Williams, was what they had been planning also further expressing that there are bigger things to look forward to. The record according to Bolden was no surprise and their actual aim was to get her to run below the 10.94 seconds, she ran at the JAAA last year which was deemed illegal due to a positive drug test.
The coach of Briana Williams even went further by stating that they were looking to see her run 10.87s, however, due to her bad reaction and a bit of panicking it did not materialize, however, he is saying that he knows that she can do better.
Williams also won $5000 for getting the fastest time by a female on the day over a 40 yard split. According to William, she is overwhelmed by the whole thing, but excited as well as happy at the same time and looking forward to doing more work.
She is booked to run two more races which will include a 100 meter, and a 200 meter, and then it will be all about the June 24-27 national championship in Jamaica, which will decide the Tokyo Olympics team.
Bounty Killer and Jamaica’s Sports Minister Olivia Babsy Grange took to social media to show their support recently, check out Bounty’s post below.
