Williams powered by disappointment

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Danielle Williams, powered by the disappointment of her fourth-place finish at last year's IAAF World Junior Championships, romped home to victory in the women's 100m hurdles under-20 final on yesterday's second and final day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/Supreme Ventures National Junior Championships, held at the National Stadium.

Williams, who took yesterday's event in a time of 13.90 seconds, will be looking to make amends for her World Junior's disappointment at the Pan American Junior Championships in Florida next month.

"That was a shocker (her fourth-place finish at World Juniors) for me, because the third place (finisher) had the same time as me and I was beaten out by 1000th of a second, so that was more than the motivation I needed to come here and win," Williams expressed. "Nobody remembers fourth place, they only remember first to third, so I used that as a motivation to come out and try and do my best," she added.

The Johnson C. Smith University student, who boasts a GPA of 3.82, placed third in the 100m hurdles at the recently concluded NCAA Championships with a wind-aided 13.13 seconds. She is now looking forward to taking the Junior Pan Am crown.

"I would like to win the Pan Am Junior Championships in July and then from there I'll move on," Williams stated. "I am going into my second year of college now and things can only get better in my eyes."

One of the 18-year-old's major concerns coming into the season was her start, but this has improved thanks to the work she has been doing indoors.

"The 60m that we have been doing indoors has forced me to improve my start, because when you are doing 60m it is only five hurdles, so if you don't get out fast the race is over from the start," Williams explained.

The triple All American Outdoors Champion believes she has benefited significantly from the fact that her sister, Shermaine Williams, who is the defending Pan Am 100m hurdles champion, also attends Johnson C. Smith.

"She (Williams) pushes me to go much harder, because when you are training with one of the best you have to step up your game in order to compete with her," Williams said., while stating that she is also reaping the benefits of having a Jamaican coach in former Kingston College man, Lennox Graham.