Ivory Williams
Encyclopedia
Ivory Williams is an American
sprint
athlete who specialises in the 100 meters.
Born in Jefferson County, Texas
, Williams competed at the 2002 United States Junior Championships, taking bronze in the 200 meters and finishing in fourth place in the 100 m. His first major junior tournament was the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
. He produced a season's best of 10.29 seconds to win the 100 m event, beating favourite Abidemi Omole. He followed this up with another gold medal in the 4×100 meters relay, setting a junior world record of 38.66 seconds with teammates Omole, Trell Kimmons, and LaShawn Merritt
.
In the 2008 season he won the 100 m at the Prefontaine Classic
. Shortly after, Williams broke the 10-second barrier
for the first time, running a new 100 m personal best of 9.94 seconds in the quarter-finals of the 2008 US Olympic Trials
. The time made him the fifth fastest American in the 100 m that year, and ninth in the world rankings. However, he failed to progress beyond the semi-finals: Williams was beaten into fifth place, and out of qualification, by Xavier Carter
by just a thousandth of a second.
He ran a personal best of 6.52 seconds in the 60 meters
at the 2009 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
, reaching the final as the fastest qualifier. However, he was disqualified in the final of the event for a false start. At the USA vs. The World relay competition at the Penn Relays, Williams took second place in 38.36 with the US red team comprising Terrence Trammell
, Mark Jelks, and Mike Rodgers.
In May 2009, Williams took part in the 150 meters street race at the Great City Games in Manchester
. He finished in third with a time of 15.08 seconds, behind Marlon Devonish
and Usain Bolt
(who ran a world best 14.35 seconds). He reached the final of the US Championships but finished seventh, missing out on the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
. He recorded a new personal best the following month, running 9.93 seconds to win the 25th Vardinoyannia in Rethymno
, Greece.
Williams won the 60 m at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
in 2010, running a world leading and personal record time of 6.49 seconds, which set him up as a favorite for the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships
. However, he was barred from competing at the championships after his sample from the US championships tested positive for Carboxy THC, a marijuana metabolite. He received a three month suspension and his championship result was annulled. His family was deeply saddened by his mistake...TRAGIC ! TRAGIC !
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sprint
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
athlete who specialises in the 100 meters.
Born in Jefferson County, Texas
Jefferson County, Texas
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont, and it is named for the former U.S...
, Williams competed at the 2002 United States Junior Championships, taking bronze in the 200 meters and finishing in fourth place in the 100 m. His first major junior tournament was the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics was the 2004 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Grosseto in Italy.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:-References:*. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2010-06-06....
. He produced a season's best of 10.29 seconds to win the 100 m event, beating favourite Abidemi Omole. He followed this up with another gold medal in the 4×100 meters relay, setting a junior world record of 38.66 seconds with teammates Omole, Trell Kimmons, and LaShawn Merritt
LaShawn Merritt
LaShawn Merritt is an American track and field athlete who competes in sprinting events, specializing in the 400 meters. He is the reigning Olympic champion over the distance and his personal best of 43.75 seconds makes him the fifth fastest of all time...
.
In the 2008 season he won the 100 m at the Prefontaine Classic
Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.-History:...
. Shortly after, Williams broke the 10-second barrier
10-second barrier
The 10-second barrier is a term used in track and field athletics which refers to the physical and psychological barrier of completing the men's 100 metres sprint in under ten seconds...
for the first time, running a new 100 m personal best of 9.94 seconds in the quarter-finals of the 2008 US Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
. The time made him the fifth fastest American in the 100 m that year, and ninth in the world rankings. However, he failed to progress beyond the semi-finals: Williams was beaten into fifth place, and out of qualification, by Xavier Carter
Xavier Carter
Xavier Carter is an American professional track and field athlete. He attended Louisiana State University and was a star on the track and field team as well a member of the football team. Prior to LSU, Xavier Carter graduated from Palm Bay Senior High School in Melbourne, FL...
by just a thousandth of a second.
He ran a personal best of 6.52 seconds in the 60 meters
60 meters
The 60 meter band or 5 MHz band is a relatively new amateur radio allocation and originally only available in a few countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Ireland and Iceland...
at the 2009 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships is an annual indoor track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
, reaching the final as the fastest qualifier. However, he was disqualified in the final of the event for a false start. At the USA vs. The World relay competition at the Penn Relays, Williams took second place in 38.36 with the US red team comprising Terrence Trammell
Terrence Trammell
Terrence R. Trammell is a track and field athlete who won the silver medal in the 110 meter hurdles at both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics, as well as three silver medals at the World Championships.The 1997 Track & Field News Male High School Athlete of the Year attended the University of...
, Mark Jelks, and Mike Rodgers.
In May 2009, Williams took part in the 150 meters street race at the Great City Games in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He finished in third with a time of 15.08 seconds, behind Marlon Devonish
Marlon Devonish
Marlon Ronald Devonish, MBE is an English sprint athlete.He is a member of the Coventry Godiva Harriers athletics club and is coached by Tony Lester. Early in his career he was successful at both 100 and 200 metre distances, winning English Schools and European Junior titles at both, but in recent...
and Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt
The Honourable Usain St. Leo Bolt, OJ, C.D. , is a Jamaican sprinter and a five-time World and three-time Olympic gold medalist. He is the world record and Olympic record holder in the 100 metres, the 200 metres and the 4×100 metres relay...
(who ran a world best 14.35 seconds). He reached the final of the US Championships but finished seventh, missing out on the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
. He recorded a new personal best the following month, running 9.93 seconds to win the 25th Vardinoyannia in Rethymno
Rethymno
Rethymno is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Greece, the capital of Rethymno peripheral unit in the island of Crete. It was built in antiquity , even though was never a competitive Minoan centre...
, Greece.
Williams won the 60 m at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships is an annual indoor track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
in 2010, running a world leading and personal record time of 6.49 seconds, which set him up as a favorite for the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics was held between 12 and 14 March at the ASPIRE Dome in Doha, Qatar. The championships was the first of six IAAF World Athletics Series events to take place in 2010.-Bidding and organisation:...
. However, he was barred from competing at the championships after his sample from the US championships tested positive for Carboxy THC, a marijuana metabolite. He received a three month suspension and his championship result was annulled. His family was deeply saddened by his mistake...TRAGIC ! TRAGIC !
Personal bests
| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 meters 60 metres 60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes... |
6.49 | Albuquerque,New Mexico, United States | February 28, 2010 |
| 100 meters 100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896... |
9.93 | Rethymno Rethymno Rethymno is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Greece, the capital of Rethymno peripheral unit in the island of Crete. It was built in antiquity , even though was never a competitive Minoan centre... , Greece |
July 20, 2009 |
| 200 meters 200 metres A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first... |
20.62 | Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ... , United States |
May 6, 2006 |
| 400 meters 400 metres The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and... |
46.25 | Wichita, Kansas Wichita, Kansas Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area... , United States |
April 16, 2005 |
- All information taken from IAAF Profile.