Williams Runs World's Fastest Time This Season

June 10, 2004

Austin, Texas (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami junior Lauryn Williams (Rochester, Pa.) began her quest for her first NCAA Championship in spectacular fashion on Thursday posting a wind-aided time of 10.94 in her preliminary heat, the fastest time in the world under any condition this season.

Williams, who also owns the fastest legal mark in the world this year (11.01), joins Marion Jones as the only women this season to post times under 11 seconds. Jones recorded a wind-aided time of 10.99 on May 22 at the Home Depot Track and Field Invitational in Carson, Calif.

“This is way beyond anything I expected,” said Williams after the race. “I felt really good yesterday and was disappointed I didn’t get to run. I was a little nervous heading into today’s race but fortunately I was able to keep my focus.”

Williams improves to 8-0 in 100-meter competition this season and enters Friday’s final with a streak of seven consecutive finals victories.Seven of the nation’s top eight ranked sprinters advanced to the 100-meter final including each of the top-five. Among them was Muna Lee of LSU who posted a wind-aided time of 11.01 to win her preliminary heat.

“When I saw Muna run 11.01 it gave me even more incentive to run a faster time,” added Williams. “This season I have run consistently around 11 seconds so I knew I had the ability to run under 11.”

Friday’s NCAA 100-meter final is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. Williams will also run in the 4×100-meter relay final scheduled for 7 p.m.

“The final will be very competitive,” said Williams. “I expect the competition to be fierce.”

In other action, junior Amber Williams (Succassuna, N.J.) finished 17th in the heptathlon with 5,091 points. Williams is the first Hurricane heptathlete to qualify for the NCAA Championships.