Anchor runner Lauryn Williams of the U.S. (left) sprints to the finish line for a U.S. victory in the women's 4x100 metres relay final, ahead of second-place Veronica Campbell of Jamaica (right) at last year's World Championships. - FILE
new york (ap):
IF ONLY THE 60 metres was the premier race in athletics, Lauryn Williams would be thrilled.
Williams, the reigning 100-metre world champion, starts her indoor season in the 60 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on January 28, then makes her Millrose Games debut February 3 in the same event. She plans to run a full indoor season for the first time as a pro, and talked yesterday about her love for the 60.
COOL ATMOSPHERE
"For one, the 60 is a shorter race, so you're not as tired in the end," Williams said with a chuckle. "I just love the atmosphere."
She definitely will get a kick out of Madison Square Garden then, which is usually rocking for the indoor event. The 60 is shaping up to be great fun, with Williams going against top rival Veronica Campbell of Jamaica. Campbell dominated the 100 last year, but Williams beat her to the line to win the world title in a driving rain in Helsinki, Finland.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY
At the 2004 Olympics, Williams finished second and Campbell third in the 100. Williams said she sometimes gets mistaken for Campbell because they are short and have the same built. Either way, the women seem poised to rival each other in the sprint events for many years to come.
"When I'm training, I'm trying to beat Veronica," Williams said. "When I'm going to cheat on a sit up, I think, 'What would Veronica be doing right now?"'
Campbell, who is finishing her final year at the University of Arkansas, will run in one meet before Millrose. Williams made it a goal to get to the World Indoor Championships in Russia, while Campbell is unsure about whether she wants to compete there.
But Campbell knows competing against Williams will only make her better.
"I have a lot of respect for Lauryn," Campbell said on a conference call. "A true champion needs someone to push them, so I really enjoy running against Lauryn."
Williams seems to enjoy competing indoors, something many athletes shy away from to concentrate on the more heavily touted outdoors. Her goal this year is to run more consistently, after an up-and-down first year as a pro.
Yes, she capped it off with her world title, but she knows there is room for improvement.
"To be dominant this year is important," Williams said. "Being a world champion is a good thing, but it would have been better to finish the season winning more races."
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