Jodie Williams celebrates becoming the first British woman to win the World Junior 100m title (© Getty Images)
16yearold Jodie Williams confirmed her preevent favourite status as she won the women’s 100m final in stunning fashion here in Moncton.
The British sprinter who won an unprecedented sprint double at last year World Youth Championships in Bressanone, came into these championships being undefeated in 146 races ranging from 60 to 400m. She held a stronghold on her winning streak here in Canada after easily cruising through heats and semi finals to clock 11.40 into a 0.7m head wind in tonight’s final.
Williams was the smoothest out of the blocks and didn’t leave much to chance as she sprinted away from the rest of the field.
USA’s Takeia Pinckey who had run a windy 11.18 earlier this year was the only one to remain in close range of the British athlete although never a threat for the gold medal. She crossed the line in 11.49 securely in second as her younger compatriot Ashton Purvis was trying to close in for bronze. It wasn’t going to be Purvis’ day; she would have to be content with fourth at 11.60 as the Netherlands’ Jamile Samuel held on for third by just 4 hundredths of a second.
Williams said: “I knew it was going to be a tough final because of the times from qualifying so I knew it was going to be tough but you have to stay calm and perform.
“There has been a lot of pressure on me since World Youths. I will leave here with confidence. I had to spend time dealing with pressure.
Williams will return to the track to compete in the heats of the 200m tomorrow morning with a lot of pressure off her shoulder and a lot of ambition to replicate last year’s double.
Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
