Ja’s track and field IN SAFE HANDS, says young star
CARIFTA GAMES Under-17 sprint champion, Brianna Williams, says Jamaica’s track and field is in safe hands after the country again dominated the regional track and field meet in Nassau Bahamas over the Easter weekend.
Williams was presented with the Austin Sealey Award after being named the most outstanding athlete at the meet. The Florida-based sprinter left the championships with three gold medals. She clocked a record 11.27 seconds to take gold in the 100m and ran a personal best 23.11 for the 200m gold before running a scorching opening leg on the Under-17 sprint relay team which won gold in a record 44.95 seconds.
“It was amazing. I love seeing the trophy (Austin Sealy). It was really a great feeling to win this special award. I am proud to represent Jamaica at the Carifta Games,” the 16 year-old Williams told The Gleaner after the team’s arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport, yesterday.
“I could have been better with my start in the 100m, but overall it was good as I broke the record. The 200m was an okay race. I was not feeling as good. I still did my personal best,” she added.
NO PLANS TO SWITCH
“It was exciting as I worked hard for it and I knew that I could have done it. To represent my mom’s (Sharon Simpson) country is a great feeling because I wanted to represent Jamaica for a long time. I was not forced as it was my decision to do so. I won’t be switching to the United States,” Williams pointed out.
“When I was younger, I used to watch the Jamaican athletes on TV and I liked the colours. I have been visiting Jamaica from I was very young,” she added.
“The younger athletes surprise me because of the incredible times that they are running. They have been doing such pretty good times at a young age,” she said about the abundance of emerging talent on the Jamaican team.
“I believe that we have incredible athletes to carry on the tradition at the senior level. We will dominate any track meet that we go to. Later on is World Juniors in July, and I am working on selection. I am stronger, better mentally and improving so I am looking forward to that meet,” she reasoned.