Williams Named Athlete Of The Year
May 24, 2004
Coral Gables, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami junior Lauryn Williams (Rochester, Pa.) has been named the recipient of 2004 Babe Didrickson Zaharias Award, presented annually by the Sports Society to the most outstanding female professional or amateur athlete.
Williams will be presented the award on Wednesday, May 26 at the annual Sports Society Awards dinner held in the Grand Slam Ballroom at Don Shula’s Hotel in Miami Lakes.
Dinner is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tickets for the dinner at $20 and can be purchased at the door. For more information please contact Sports Society president Dr. Margorie Wessel at 305-828-6419.
Now in its 23rd year, former winners of the Babe Didrickson Zaharias award have included track star Evelyn Ashford, volleyball great Flo Hyman, diving legend Wendy Williams and basketball great Nancy Lieberman Kline. Last year’s recipient was Rosemary Homeister, Jr., the first woman jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby.
Williams has had a breakout season in 2004 placing first in all six outdoor events in which she has competed including a victory in the 100-meters at the Penn Relays, and victories in the 100-meters and 200-meters at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships where she was named the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Track Performer.
Williams is a seven-time All-American and 11-time BIG EAST Champion who last summer won gold medals in the 100-meters and 4×100-meter relay at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Williams also won a silver medal as a member of the 4×100-meter relay at the 2003 World Championships in Paris, France.
Earlier this year at the Gatorade Invitational she posted the fastest times in the world this season in the 100-meters and 200-meters. Her time of 11.01 in the 100-meters remains the best in the world this season.
Williams becomes the second UM track and field athlete to be honored by the Sports Society. Seven-time All-American and NCAA Champion hurdler Yolanda McCray won the award in 1999.
