Jodie Williams
Encyclopedia
Jodie Alicia Williams is a junior British
sprinter, who specialises in the 100 metres
and the 200 metres
. She is the former World Youth Champion
over both distances, the reigning World Junior
and European Junior
Champion in the 100 m and European Junior Champion
in the 200 m.
Williams had a five-year long unbeaten streak of 151 races in the sprints, beginning with the start of her athletics career in 2005 and lasting until July 2010, when she was runner-up to Stormy Kendrick
in the 200 m at the World Junior Championships
. Williams is the British youth record holder over the 60 metres, 100 m and 200 m and the British junior record holder over the 100 m. At the age of sixteen, she was the top-ranked British woman over 200 m in 2010.
Williams has been described as the "sort of athlete every country is waiting for" by UK Athletics
Head Coach, Charles Van Commenee
. And has also been praised by Allyson Felix
, who stated "I think Jodie has great potential. She's young but she can still accomplish a lot of things".
to an English father, Richard Williams and a Trinidadian mother, Christine Williams. Both of her parents were county-level sprinters. Richard ran for Hertfordshire
, while Christine ran for Sussex
. She also has two siblings, her younger brother named Ben and younger sister called Hannah. Her father recognized her talent at a young age: "Jodie would have finished while her nearest rival was still only about halfway up the track".
Williams began to take athletics seriously when she was 13 years-old.
Williams was educated at Heath Mount School before attending Queenswood School, Hertfordshire. She is now a sixth form student at Dame Alice Owen's School
, in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.
Williams is currently in a relationship with in her words, the "very nice" sprinter Junior Ejehu.
, Italy for the World Youth Championships
to take part in the 100 m and 200 m. In the 100 m semi-final, she set a world-leading time for a youth athlete of 11.40 s. In the event final she ran 0.01 s quicker to clinch her first world title, defeating Ashton Purvis and Alison Peter. In the 200 m final, she ran another youth world leading time of 23.08 s to clinch another gold medal
, making her the first girl to achieve a 100/200 m sprint double at the competition.
. A week later, at the Bedford International Games, she broke the 100 m British junior record when she ran 11.24 s. After winning both the events at the England Athletics U20 Championships, she set off for the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics
, which were to be held in Moncton, Canada.
Williams carried on her unbeaten run by winning the 100 m final in a time of 11.40s to make it 149 races unbeaten. After the race she said "I thought 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."
The next day it was the 200 m. She came first in her heat and semi final. Williams was the fastest qualifier, but suffered her first defeat in her athletics career by coming second in the final to American Stormy Kendrick
. Williams believes her loss was a "blessing in disguise". In the 4 x 100 m relay
the Great Britain team was eliminated due to a bad baton exchange between Williams and Rebekah Wilson.
won in 1971. She ran a personal best of 7.24s in a strong British field that included Bernice Wilson and Jeannette Kwakye. This led to an automatic qualification for the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris.
This has not been the first time that Williams had achieved a standard to make a senior Great Britain team, but this was the first time she had taken her place in the senior Great Britian team.
In Paris, Williams ran 7.21s in the European Athletics Indoor Championships 60 m final finishing fourth. She had missed out on a medal by 0.01s but despite this, she said she had "surprised herself".
At the European Athletics Junior Championships
, Williams won the 100 m setting a new personal best and championship record of 11.18s, breaking the previous record by 0.03s.
She explained "I've been training better than last year and my times in training have been better than last year so I knew I had 11.1 in me, I've just not had the right conditions until today."
Within 24 hours, she also won the 200 m in a season's best of 22.94 – despite a strong headwind of −1.5m/s to complete a sprint double, an unprecendented achievement for a British woman.
To end the championships, she ran on the fourth leg of the 4 x 100 m relay to collect a bronze medal
along with her team mates.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sprinter, who specialises in the 100 metres
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...
and the 200 metres
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...
. She is the former World Youth Champion
IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics
The IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics is a global athletics event comprising track and field events for competitors who are 17 or younger . The event is organized by International Association of Athletics Federations . It is held biannually...
over both distances, the reigning World Junior
IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics
The IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics are the world championships for junior aged athletes athletes, organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It is held biennially since 1986.-Championships:-Men:-Women:-External links:* at...
and European Junior
2011 European Athletics Junior Championships
The 21st European Athletics Junior Championships were held between 21 and 24 July 2011 in the Kadrioru Stadium in Tallinn, Estonia.-Men's Results:-Women's Results:-Medal table:- Participating nations :...
Champion in the 100 m and European Junior Champion
2011 European Athletics Junior Championships
The 21st European Athletics Junior Championships were held between 21 and 24 July 2011 in the Kadrioru Stadium in Tallinn, Estonia.-Men's Results:-Women's Results:-Medal table:- Participating nations :...
in the 200 m.
Williams had a five-year long unbeaten streak of 151 races in the sprints, beginning with the start of her athletics career in 2005 and lasting until July 2010, when she was runner-up to Stormy Kendrick
Stormy Kendrick
Stormy Kendrick is an American sprinter who specialises in the 100 and 200 metres. She won two gold medals at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics.-Career:...
in the 200 m at the World Junior Championships
2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 13th World Junior Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition for athletes under the age of 20 which was held at the Moncton Stadium in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada from 19–25 July 2010. A total of 44 athletics events were contested at the Championships, 22 by male...
. Williams is the British youth record holder over the 60 metres, 100 m and 200 m and the British junior record holder over the 100 m. At the age of sixteen, she was the top-ranked British woman over 200 m in 2010.
Williams has been described as the "sort of athlete every country is waiting for" by UK Athletics
UK Athletics
UK Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for overseeing the governance of athletics events in the UK as well as athletes, their development, and athletics officials....
Head Coach, Charles Van Commenee
Charles van Commenee
Charles van Commenee, written in Dutch as Charles van Commenée, is an Dutch athletics coach who is currently the head coach of UK Athletics. He began his professional career as a technical director and national coach for the Netherlands. He moved to take up similar roles for the British athletics...
. And has also been praised by Allyson Felix
Allyson Felix
Allyson Felix is a track and field sprint athlete, who competes internationally for the United States, primarily in the 200 meters. She also competes at the 100 meters and the 400 meters distances...
, who stated "I think Jodie has great potential. She's young but she can still accomplish a lot of things".
Background
Williams was born in Welwyn Garden CityWelwyn Garden City
-Economy:Ever since its inception as garden city, Welwyn Garden City has attracted a strong commercial base with several designated employment areas. Among the companies trading in the town are:*Air Link Systems*Baxter*British Lead Mills*Carl Zeiss...
to an English father, Richard Williams and a Trinidadian mother, Christine Williams. Both of her parents were county-level sprinters. Richard ran for Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, while Christine ran for Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. She also has two siblings, her younger brother named Ben and younger sister called Hannah. Her father recognized her talent at a young age: "Jodie would have finished while her nearest rival was still only about halfway up the track".
Williams began to take athletics seriously when she was 13 years-old.
Williams was educated at Heath Mount School before attending Queenswood School, Hertfordshire. She is now a sixth form student at Dame Alice Owen's School
Dame Alice Owen's School
Dame Alice Owen's School is a mixed voluntary aided secondary school in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, founded in the London Borough of Islington.-Admissions:...
, in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.
Williams is currently in a relationship with in her words, the "very nice" sprinter Junior Ejehu.
2009 World Youth Champion
After taking the England Athletics Under-20 Championships in 100 m, in a time of 11.48 s. She went on to BrixenBrixen
Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
, Italy for the World Youth Championships
IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics
The IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics is a global athletics event comprising track and field events for competitors who are 17 or younger . The event is organized by International Association of Athletics Federations . It is held biannually...
to take part in the 100 m and 200 m. In the 100 m semi-final, she set a world-leading time for a youth athlete of 11.40 s. In the event final she ran 0.01 s quicker to clinch her first world title, defeating Ashton Purvis and Alison Peter. In the 200 m final, she ran another youth world leading time of 23.08 s to clinch another gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
, making her the first girl to achieve a 100/200 m sprint double at the competition.
2010 World Junior Championships
In 2010, Williams started off her season in strong form – at the Loughborough Games, she broke the 200 m British junior record when she ran 22.79 s, beating a strong field including senior Olympian Joice MaduakaJoice Maduaka
Joice Maduaka is a British athlete who competes over the 100, 200 and occasionally 400 metres. She holds the record for winning the most medals of any athlete at the British Athletics Championships, standing at 19 medals to date, including being the 100m champion 6 times, and the 200m champion...
. A week later, at the Bedford International Games, she broke the 100 m British junior record when she ran 11.24 s. After winning both the events at the England Athletics U20 Championships, she set off for the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics
2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 13th World Junior Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition for athletes under the age of 20 which was held at the Moncton Stadium in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada from 19–25 July 2010. A total of 44 athletics events were contested at the Championships, 22 by male...
, which were to be held in Moncton, Canada.
Williams carried on her unbeaten run by winning the 100 m final in a time of 11.40s to make it 149 races unbeaten. After the race she said "I thought 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."
The next day it was the 200 m. She came first in her heat and semi final. Williams was the fastest qualifier, but suffered her first defeat in her athletics career by coming second in the final to American Stormy Kendrick
Stormy Kendrick
Stormy Kendrick is an American sprinter who specialises in the 100 and 200 metres. She won two gold medals at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics.-Career:...
. Williams believes her loss was a "blessing in disguise". In the 4 x 100 m relay
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
the Great Britain team was eliminated due to a bad baton exchange between Williams and Rebekah Wilson.
2011 Indoor Season & Double European Junior Champion
In 2011, Williams became the youngest winner of the UK Indoor Championships over the 60 m, since 15-year-old Sonia LannamanSonia Lannaman
Sonia May Lannaman is a British athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres.She competed in her first Olympics in 1972 where she set a British junior record of 11.45 sec. In 1973 she became European junior champion winning gold in the 100 metres followed by a bronze in the 4 x 100 metres relay...
won in 1971. She ran a personal best of 7.24s in a strong British field that included Bernice Wilson and Jeannette Kwakye. This led to an automatic qualification for the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris.
This has not been the first time that Williams had achieved a standard to make a senior Great Britain team, but this was the first time she had taken her place in the senior Great Britian team.
In Paris, Williams ran 7.21s in the European Athletics Indoor Championships 60 m final finishing fourth. She had missed out on a medal by 0.01s but despite this, she said she had "surprised herself".
At the European Athletics Junior Championships
European Athletics Junior Championships
The European Athletics Junior Championships are the European championships open for those of age. The IAAF defines Junior as athletes who are 19 years of age or under. It is currently organized by the European Athletic Association....
, Williams won the 100 m setting a new personal best and championship record of 11.18s, breaking the previous record by 0.03s.
She explained "I've been training better than last year and my times in training have been better than last year so I knew I had 11.1 in me, I've just not had the right conditions until today."
Within 24 hours, she also won the 200 m in a season's best of 22.94 – despite a strong headwind of −1.5m/s to complete a sprint double, an unprecendented achievement for a British woman.
To end the championships, she ran on the fourth leg of the 4 x 100 m relay to collect a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
along with her team mates.
Major competitive record
| 2009 | IAAF World Youth Championships IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics The IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics is a global athletics event comprising track and field events for competitors who are 17 or younger . The event is organized by International Association of Athletics Federations . It is held biannually... |
Brixen Brixen Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state.... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
1st | 100 m |
| 1st | 200 m | |||
| 2010 | IAAF World Junior Championships IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics The IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics are the world championships for junior aged athletes athletes, organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It is held biennially since 1986.-Championships:-Men:-Women:-External links:* at... |
Moncton, Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
1st | 100 m 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres The women's 100 metres at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics was held at the Moncton 2010 Stadium on 20 & 21 July.-Medalists:-Records:Prior to the competition, the existing world junior and championship records were as follows.... |
| 2nd | 200 m 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres The women's 200 metres at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics was held at the Moncton 2010 Stadium on 22 & 23 July.-Medalists:-Records:Prior to the competition, the existing world junior and championship records were as follows.... |
|||
| 2011 | European Indoor Championships 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships The 31st European Athletics Indoor Championships were held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France, from 4 to 6 March 2011.A record high of 630 athletes, representing 46 countries, were entered into the three-day competition. Twenty-six track and field events were contested at the... |
Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
4th | 60 m 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Women's 60 metres The Women's 60 metres event at the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships was held at March 5–6, 2011 with the final at March 6 at 16:40.-Records:-Heats:First 3 in each heat and 4 best performers advanced to the Semifinals.- Semifinals :... |
| 2011 | European Junior Championships European Athletics Junior Championships The European Athletics Junior Championships are the European championships open for those of age. The IAAF defines Junior as athletes who are 19 years of age or under. It is currently organized by the European Athletic Association.... |
Tallinn Tallinn Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list... , Estonia Estonia Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies... |
1st | 100 m |
| 1st | 200 m | |||
| 3rd | 4 x 100 m | |||
Personal bests
| Distance | Time (sec Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60m (indoors) | 7.21 | Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... |
05 Mar 11 |
| 100m | 11.18 (NJR) | Tallinn Tallinn Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list... |
22 Jul 11 |
| 200m | 22.79 | Loughborough Loughborough Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University... |
23 May 10 |
| 400m | 54.33 | Hendon Hendon Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier... |
28 Aug 10 |
| 400m (indoors) | 54.95 | Lee Valley Lee Valley Lee Valley or Lea Valley can refer to:*The valley of the River Lea ** Lee Valley Park*Lea Valley Lines, a railway in England*Lee Valley Tools, a Canadian purveyor of woodworking and gardening tools... |
15 Mar 09 |
External links
- IAAF profile for Jodie Williams.
- Power of 10 profile for Jodie Williams.