Williams Finalist For Honda Award

May 25, 2004

Coral Gables, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami junior Lauryn Williams (Rochester, Pa.) has been named one of four finalists for the Honda Collegiate Women Sports Track and Field Athlete of the Year Award.

The three other finalists include Hyleas Fountain (Georgia), Tiffany McWilliams (Mississippi State) and Kim Smith (Providence). The winner, which will be decided by nationwide voting among NCAA member schools, will be announced on May 28.

American Honda will donate $1000 to the women’s athletic fund of each nominee’s university. The winner’s institution will receive $5000.

The Track and Field winner will be eligible for The Honda-Broderick Cup award annually given to the nation’s outstanding collegiate women’s athlete. Former track and field winners include Evelyn Ashford, Jacqueline Joyner and Angela Williams. Auburn’s Elva Goulbourne took home the award last season.

Williams has had a breakout season in 2004 placing first in all six outdoor events in which she has competed including a win 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, who is a seven-time All-American and 11-time BIG EAST Champion, won gold medals in the 100-meters and 4×100-meter relay last summer 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.