Jodie Williams secured the first gold medal of the IAAF World Junior Championships for the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team yesterday after an impressive 11.40 seconds in the 100m final.
The current UK junior record holder and world number three had progressed with ease throughout her semi final earlier in the evening with 11.59 seconds, the quickest of the qualifiers, before adding the World Junior title to her 2009 global youth gold.
Her top form meant she was able to lead home America’s Takeia Pinckney and Jamile Samuel of Holland, with a strong start boosting her win.
The 16-year-old from Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire will begin her assault on the 200m later today in a bid to match her IAAF World Youth Championships double from 12 months ago.
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“I needed to get a good start because I knew both Americans could come through at the end,” said the NikeWomen athlete.
“I thought that if I got off to a good start I’d be in with a good chance and that’s just what I did. I knew it was going be a close race and I wasn’t quite sure I could come out and perform again, so it’s obviously a huge relief and the pressure has lifted a bit.
“I know the day I get beaten will come eventually, but my winning streak has given me great confidence coming here and getting a medal is brilliant,” she said, speaking of her unbeaten record of over 140 races.
“This is another step up for me. The next step is the World Seniors so this is a stepping stone but it means a lot, it’s a great achievement.”
Elsewhere in the sprint, Marilyn Nwawulor failed to make it through from the 100m semi finals after a fifth place finish in 11.95 seconds despite a more confident display compared to her first round heat.
“I had a better start than yesterday,” she said. “I felt much better and I thought I got up well. I could have probably worked a bit harder in the middle, but it’s been good.”
In the individual events, Kate Avery finished 11th in the women’s 5000m final in a season’s best time of 16:23.97. It was a tough outing for the European junior 3000m silver medallist who had battled back from injury in the months prior to selection.
Today’s programme commences with the women’s hammer featuring Aviva GB & NI duo Sophie Hitchon and Myra Perkins at 09.00 (13.00 UK time).
Jessica Whittington, Sportsister,
The Women’s Sports Magazine
For more information on Jodie Williams visit NikeWomen.com
