Williams continues to soar – despite pledge to stay under the radar

DARREN Campbell was holding court on the future of British sprinting on BBC Five Live recently.

POTENTIAL: Sprinter Jodie Williams is part of the UKA Heroes scheme, an initiative funded by Original Source that gives financial support to rising star athletes 

With the only genuine world class athlete banned from competing at the London 2012 Olympics, he was asked about whether there was a realistic chance of a British medallist – or even finalist – in two years time.

Campbell tactfully dodged the question – he is never on confident ground when discussing anything connected with Chambers – and quickly introduced Jodie Williams, wasting little time in telling listeners that she was the future. No pressure there then.

Williams – who won’t turn 17 until September – further underlined her growing reputation at this weekend’s England Athletics Aviva under-20 and 23 Championships, which doubled as the trials for this summer’s World Junior Championships in Canada.

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She claimed a predictable sprint double – but narrowly failed to improve on the 11.24 second personal best she set at the CAU Inter Counties Championships on the same Bedford track a few weeks earlier.

However, her 11.28 second time would have been good enough for second place at the European Team Championships in Bergen – where British team-mate Laura Turner settled for third in a season’s best 11.31 secs.

Williams rightly insists she will not make the transition to senior athletics too quickly, although many more performances like this might make it difficult for Charles van Commenee to maintain his protective stance.

Already some influential voices are suggesting that Williams should earn her first senior vest at this October’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi, claiming even if she only travels for the relay, the major championship experience will be invaluable.

Williams is not the first British junior to enjoy sprinting success on the global stage, as pointed out by Athletics Weekly editor Jason Henderson earlier this month.

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He cited the examples of Sarah Wilhelmy, Vernicha James, Amy Spencer and Asha Phillip, who all enjoyed junior success but quickly faded away from the sport while Mark Lewis-Francis and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey continually try to rediscover their junior dominance when pitted against the big boys.

All salutary lessons for the level-headed Williams – but, whisper it quietly, you get the feeling she might just be the exception.

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