CORRECTIONS ABOUT THE VENUE AND LOCATION HAVE BEEN MADE
Jamaican rising sprint star Briana Williams is set to take on a strong 60m field to open her season at the 2021 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix – World Athletics Indoor Tour gold-level event at the NYC Parks’ Ocean Breeze Athletic, in Staten Island on Saturday (13).
Williams, the 2018 sprint double World U20 champion, was slated to open her campaign in the Bahamas last December but was pulled from the meeting by her coach Ato Boldon.
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The 18-year-old will now turn her attention to the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix to open her term against a host of American sprinters and her coach believes she’s a “little bit ahead” of where she was last season when she opened with 7.27 seconds and ended with a 7.18 seconds personal best.
“She’s ready as she was last season,” Boldon was quoted as telling SportsMax. “She opened in 7.2 and then started to get consistent at 7.1. I think she is a little bit ahead of last year. She is in better shape and is a little stronger.”
In New York this weekend, Williams will match strides against the likes of Candace Hill, Aleia Hobbs, Jenna Prandini and Hannah Cunliffe.
Hill, who is currently one of the top American young sprinters, has already posted a personal best of 7.22 when opening her campaign in Fayetteville, at the end of last month.
Former US champion and NCAA star Hobbs has made a bright start to the season, as she’s already clocked 7.18 for the 60m. The former LSU standout has a personal best of 7.07.
Another former US champion, Teahna Daniels, has lowered her seasonal best to a quality 7.17 so far in this young season, Prandini, Cunliffe and Morolake Akinosun also joining the field.
Another sprinter to keep a close eye on in the women’s 60m this weekend is Mikiah Brisco of USA, who comes with the fastest time of all the starters this season with 7.14.
Kayla White and Dezerea Bryant, as well as Canadian Khamica Bingham are the other starters.
