Williams Runs PR 11.02, Robinson Runs 44.84, Boling Clocks 10.15 at Great Southwest Classic

By Todd Grasley for DyeStat

A week after setting a new personal best with 11.10 seconds in the 100 meters at a small meet in Jacksonville, Fla., Briana Williams took her time down to 11.02 seconds at the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico.

Williams, who also lowered the Jamaican U-20 record, inched ever closer to Candace Hill's national high school record of 10.98 seconds. Her 100 time was wind-legal (+ 0.8 m/s), eclipsing the Jamaican U-20 record of 11.04 seconds run 90 minutes earlier by Kiara Grant of Norfolk State when she placed sixth at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas. 

Meanwhile, Justin Robinson, a junior at Hazelwood West MO, turned in the second-fastest 400 meters in prep history with 44.84 seconds. Robinson broke the junior class national record and becomes just the third high school runner in U.S. history to crack 45 seconds.

RESULTS

Williams' coach, Ato Boldon, believes his star pupil still looks a little rusty despite the fast results. Her race in Albuquerque was only her fourth 100-meter dash of the season.

"So now it’s backing up a lot and making sure she is fresh for the Jamaican championships June 20-23," explained Boldon, the Trinidad and Tobago Olympian and track and field analyst.

"She’ll start better in Jamaica and she will have people next to her late in a 100-meter race for the first time this season. She thrives off of that." 

With her 11.02 performance, Williams moved past Kaylin Whitney as the second-fastest high school performer and second-fastest ever under 18. The junior from Northeast High of Oakland Park, Fla. also improved her junior class national record and moved into a tie for the eighth-fastest 100-meter performer in the world this year. 

Williams repeated as champion in the elite 200-meter race with a time of 22.88 (-1.6). It's the third consecutive race that the World U-20 championship double gold medalist from 2018 has run under 23 seconds and marks the second-fastest performance of her career, behind only her 22.50 from last summer in Finland. 

"Her 200 is very consistent now, but it’s not technically there yet," Boldon said. "She’s still getting very long in the last 50. That was a big fight to get her right last year, so I’ll be ready to do it again." 

Next up, she will run the 100 and 200 in Kingston at the Jamaican nationals with the goal of making the senior team in both events, plus the relay.

Matthew Boling of Houston Strake Jesuit ran 10.15 seconds Saturday, just off the US#1 10.13 that he ran at the Texas state meet in May. He also won the long jump with 25-0.50 (7.63m).

Kennedy Lightner from North Little Rock ran a US#1 and all-time Arkansas best of 20.48 seconds. He also broke the state record in the 100 with his second-place time of 10.34 seconds. 

Sophomore Dynasty McClennon from Humble Summer Creek, the UIL 6A 400-meter champion, ran 23.28 for second place in the 200. 

Jonah Vigil of Taos lowered his all-time New Mexico record in the 400 to 46.43 seconds. 

Jan'Taijah Ford, also of Northeast (Oakland Park) FL, ran US#1 51.57 seconds to win the girls 400 meters. Her time moved her to No. 11 on the all-time list. Utah state champion Meghan Hunter was second in 53.35.

Zion Gordon of Regis Jesuit CO ran a personal-best 13.62 seconds to win the boys 110-meter hurdles.

Sophomore Tyra Wilson from Rock Bridge MO ran a sensational hurdles double -- US#8 13.52 to win the 100 hurdles and US#2 40.79 to win the 300 hurdles.

Cortney Watkins from Hickman MO won the boys 300-meter hurdles in US#10 36.83.

Tyus Wilson of Sterling KS jumped US#7 6-11.75 (2.13m) to claim the high jump.

Jordan Lanning from Bayfield CO high jumped 5-10.50 (1.79m) in the heptathlon event along the way to a victory with 4,870 points. 

Alexis Brown of Kennedale TX flew 20-9.75 (6.34m) for US#3 in the long jump.