Once celebrated as Jamaica’s next sprint sensation, Briana Williams burst onto the global scene in 2018, making history as the youngest athlete to clinch the 100m and 200m double at the World U20 Championships.
By the age of 22, she had already clocked six sub-11 second finishes in the 100m, placing her ninth on Jamaica’s all-time list, and appeared destined to follow in the footsteps of legends like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.
A Series of Near Misses
However, Williams’ transition to the senior stage has been riddled with heartbreak. At the 2024 Jamaican National Championships, she finished third in her 100m semifinal heat with a time of 11.20 seconds, trailing Tina Clayton (10.93) and Jodean Williams (11.08). It wasn’t enough to advance to the final, leaving the 200m event as her final chance to make the World Athletics Championships team.
That opportunity too slipped away on June 29 when she false started in the 200m final, a crushing blow that echoed her disappointments from previous years.
In both 2022 and 2023, she narrowly missed making the 100m final, finishing fourth on each occasion. Even in 2021, she ran an impressive 11.01 (+1.0 m/s) but fell just short of a podium finish.
Despite consistent near misses in individual events, Williams contributed to Jamaica’s 4x100m relay success, helping secure silver medals in consecutive World Championships.
Fans Reactions
Track and field fans were quick to voice their heartbreak on social media after the 2024 trials.
“she’s been false starting lately 😩,” one fan posted on X.
Despite the disappointment, there were encouraging voices too.
“Rough trials for her but I’ve seen small progress this year in due time it will come together 🙏🏾❤️,” a supporter wrote, reflecting optimism in her gradual resurgence.
Though the high-profile setbacks have dominated headlines, Williams’ 2024 season had shown promising signs. She consistently hit the podium at various meets, signaling a return to the form that made her a teenage prodigy.
Yet, a recurring issue with false starts raised concerns.
“she’s been false starting lately 😩.”
As Williams and her coach, Ato Boldon, regroup after another difficult national trials, the hope is that these moments of heartbreak can fuel a comeback story. Her talent remains unquestionable, and in a country known for producing sprint legends, the path to greatness is rarely without adversity.