Williams Breaks 11-Second Barrier At Jamaican Nationals

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Briana Williams, a rising senior at Northeast (Oakland Park) FL, chased the leaders in one of the fastest women's 100-meter sprint races in history Friday night and landed in the record books. 

At the Jamaican national senior and junior championships in Kingston, Elaine Thompson edged out Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in a photo finish, 10.726 to 10.729 -- the two fastest times in the world this year. 

It was the first time two women have run faster than 10.75 in the same race. 

For Williams, 17, third in 10.94 seconds, it was a historic night. She eclipsed Candace Hill's 2015 high school record of 10.98, which was also the World U-18 record. 

Williams, who won gold mdeals in the 100 and 200 at last summer's IAAF World U-20 Championsips, also lowered her own Jamaica national records for the U-18 and U-20 categories. 

Her 10.94 (+0.6 wind) is equal to No. 9 all-time in Jamaica and No. 66 in world history. It also makes her No. 4 in the world this year behind Thompson, Fraser-Pryce and NCAA champion Sha'Carri Richardson, who reccently turned pro after one year at LSU.

Williams lives and trains in the Miami area with coach Ato Boldon, the NBC commentator and former Trinidad & Tobago Olympian. 

Boldon, via Twitter, said that Williams ran the 100 semifinal, which she won in 11.20, and the final, with a fever.