Monique Williams (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Monique Williams is a New Zealand
sprinter
from Tokoroa
.
Williams became the first New Zealand female sprinter to win a gold medal
at a major world championship event, when she won the 200 m
at the World University Games (Universiade) in Belgrade during 2009.
In doing so she became only the second Kiwi sprinter to win gold at a world event, after Don Jowett
won the 220 yards at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
.
Williams has seen a notable rise in prominence on the world athletics stage since 2008 and was selected as the flag Bearer for NZ at the 2009 Universiade.
During her development years, in 2006 she was awarded a New Zealand Prime Ministers Scholarship from Helen Clark, recognising Williams as an emerging and talented New Zealander. She has steadily and progressively continued to live up to that perception with notable performance improvements along the way. Her successes in her rise to prominence on the international stage have seen Williams capture three consecutive NZ national treble titles at 100
, 200 and 400 m
in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Although widely reported as a shy but confident athlete, she is the up and coming face of Oceania
’s female spinters. Global sportswear giants adidas are amongst her sponsors.
Williams holds the New Zealand national record
for 200 m (22.90s), which she set at the IAAF 2009 World Championships in Athletics
in Berlin
, eclipsing her previous record of 22.98 in February that year and 22.96 in the opening heats in Berlin. The New Zealand national record had stood for almost 31 years, before it was first broken by Williams.
A personal best of 11.64 for 100 m, set in early 2009, offers both Willams and her coach (father Chris) the challenge in the time ahead to decide, which event to concentrate on in the lead up to London 2012, and where she is also an accomplished 400 m sprinter.
Reflecting an outstanding year for the athlete, at the end of 2009 Williams was named Auckland’s North Shore Sports Personality of the Year and was short-listed for New Zealand’s elite sportspersons Halberg awards
for the first time.
Respected by her fellow athletes she graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Education in Primary School Teaching and is now a qualified primary school teacher, although much of her time is now spent as a professional athlete. She is carded athlete and is funded by Athletics New Zealand
's SPARC
High Performance Program for elite athletes. She has already qualified to represent New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in New Delhi
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
sprinter
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...
from Tokoroa
Tokoroa
Tokoroa is the third-largest town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand and largest settlement in the South Waikato district. Located 30 km southwest of Rotorua, close to the foot of the Mamaku Ranges, it is mid-way between Taupo and Hamilton on State Highway One...
.
Williams became the first New Zealand female sprinter to win a 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...
at a major world championship event, when she won the 200 m
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...
at the World University Games (Universiade) in Belgrade during 2009.
In doing so she became only the second Kiwi sprinter to win gold at a world event, after Don Jowett
Don Jowett
Donald "Don" Winston Jowett was a New Zealand sprinter. One of New Zealand's most successful sprinters he won three medals at British Empire and Commonwealth Games....
won the 220 yards at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 30 July-7 August 1954. These were the first games since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952....
.
Williams has seen a notable rise in prominence on the world athletics stage since 2008 and was selected as the flag Bearer for NZ at the 2009 Universiade.
During her development years, in 2006 she was awarded a New Zealand Prime Ministers Scholarship from Helen Clark, recognising Williams as an emerging and talented New Zealander. She has steadily and progressively continued to live up to that perception with notable performance improvements along the way. Her successes in her rise to prominence on the international stage have seen Williams capture three consecutive NZ national treble titles at 100
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...
, 200 and 400 m
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...
in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Although widely reported as a shy but confident athlete, she is the up and coming face of Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
’s female spinters. Global sportswear giants adidas are amongst her sponsors.
Williams holds the New Zealand national record
New Zealand records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand ....
for 200 m (22.90s), which she set at the IAAF 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....
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, eclipsing her previous record of 22.98 in February that year and 22.96 in the opening heats in Berlin. The New Zealand national record had stood for almost 31 years, before it was first broken by Williams.
A personal best of 11.64 for 100 m, set in early 2009, offers both Willams and her coach (father Chris) the challenge in the time ahead to decide, which event to concentrate on in the lead up to London 2012, and where she is also an accomplished 400 m sprinter.
Reflecting an outstanding year for the athlete, at the end of 2009 Williams was named Auckland’s North Shore Sports Personality of the Year and was short-listed for New Zealand’s elite sportspersons Halberg awards
Halberg awards
The Westpac Halberg awards recognise New Zealand's top sporting achievements.The annual award was started in 1949 by NZ Sportsman magazine founder Jack Fairburn...
for the first time.
Respected by her fellow athletes she graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Education in Primary School Teaching and is now a qualified primary school teacher, although much of her time is now spent as a professional athlete. She is carded athlete and is funded by Athletics New Zealand
Athletics New Zealand
Athletics New Zealand is the national organisation for athletics in New Zealand. This includes responsibility for Track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking....
's SPARC
Sport and Recreation New Zealand
Sport and Recreation New Zealand is the New Zealand government body responsible for community sport and recreation programs. It was formed on 1 January 2003 and took over the functions of the Hillary Commission, the New Zealand Sports Foundation and the policy arm of the Office of Tourism and...
High Performance Program for elite athletes. She has already qualified to represent New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
Achievements
| 2009 | World Student Games Athletics at the 2009 Summer Universiade The athletics competition at the 2009 Summer Universiade was held at the Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, Serbia from July 7 to July 12, 2009.-Men's events:In Long Jump, Kim Deok-Hyeon's record is not unofficial.... |
Belgrade Belgrade Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe... , Serbia Serbia Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans... |
1st | 200 m |
Personal bests
| Distance | Time | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 11.64 | Wellington, New Zealand | 27 March 2009 |
| 200 m | 22.90 NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
Berlin, Germany | 20 August 2009 |
| 400 m | 51.88 | Brisbane, Australia | 20 March 2009 |
| 800 m | 2:09.09 | Debrecen Debrecen Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :... , Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... |
12 July 2010 |