Jodie Williams to debut at the London Grand Prix – Athletics news
Jodie Alicia Williams, the 17-year-old junior British sprinter, who is a 100m and 200m specialist, is all set to make her Diamond League debut at the London Grand Prix in Crystal Palace, London.
The young and emphatic runner, who happens to be a former World Youth Champion for both the distances, is also the present world junior champion and European champion over the 100m and 200m distances.
The British runner is particularly known for her five-year long winning streak, where she remained undefeated in 151 races (from 2005-2010). Another feather in her cap was the British youth record over the 60m, 100m and 200m distances. Last year, at the
age of 16, the strenuous runner was the top-ranked English woman for a 200m distance.
The girl, who is just kicking-off with her senior level competitions, is among the few lucky athletes about whom a veteran coach like Charles Van Commenee, head coach of the UK Athletics said, “(She is a ) sort of athlete every country is waiting for.”
At the London Prix, Williams will face rivals like Shalonda Solomon and Bianca Knight from America. Commenting upon her debut run, the overjoyed and ambitious girl said, “It will be great for me. I know the field will be really strong and that kind of company
will only push me to do better and run faster. I’m feeling really good on track at the moment. I want to keep on racing as much as I can to ensure that I keep on improving and finish 2011 on a high.”
Such level of ambition with a matchless potential are rarely seen among athletes and the lucky competitors who possess this fineness in their sport are usually unstoppable on the track. Appearing in a debut could have been a nerve testing challenge for an
ordinary athlete, however, the young runner is not only confident to face it, but she is all set to dominate her competitors and to mark her victory on the London track.
Referring back to her experience in Tallinn that could be utilised as a power booster for her confidence in the present meet, the British girl said, “Going into the European Under-23 Championships in Tallinn, I didn’t think I’d been performing to my potential,
so after racing well there it’s given me the confidence boost I needed to compete in a Diamond League meet.”
Given the potential and ambition she possesses for athletics, Williams is well-aware of the fact that instead of going for big competitions, it is time for her to still focus on her training and prepare herself to a level where challengers take her as a
formidable runner. Perhaps, that is the reason that after consultation with her coach, Mike McFarlane, she has decided to not to appear at the upcoming Daegu championships.
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