Olympian Williams faces challenge in Mt. SAC deuce
Atlanta Olympian Jeff Williams is 41 now — and ready for some masters competition. He’ll get it Sunday at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California. Even though his 200 PR from 1996 is 19.87 (and he’s still in the Top 15 of the all-time USA list), Jeff (pictured here) will be tested by some world-class M40s in the masters exhibition 200. The entrants include some American record holders: Robert Thomas (indoor 400), Aaron Thigpen (outdoor 100), J. Smith, Don Fields, Andre Freeman, James Chinn (2005 world 400 champ), Kettrell Berry (several national sprint titles) and Felton Turnage.
A source, citing the current season rankings, writes:
“Jeff has run 11.31 this year (but) hasn’t run a 200 this year. Aaron and Robert are fresh off of nationals and both have run 22.5 outdoors. Andre Freeman ran 11.42/ 23.0 this past weekend at Pomona-Pitzer. Jim Chinn has run 23.9 and Felton 23.99. I am not sure of J. Smith (which is how he renders his name), but he has posted 23.5 hand times. (Kettrell) has run 23.3 and 23.60.”
Mt. SAC also features a masters 100 exhibition for M50-plus sprinters.
Men’s sprints organizer Stan Whitley, an M60 who has won this event in recent years, apparently is not competing this year in the 100. He shares this entry list: Greg Pizza, Jim Bonilla, Hubert Evans, Raymond Yeck, Marty Krulee, Tom Dixon and Rodney Johnson.
Krulee is easily the class of the men’s 100. But ya never know until the gun goes off.
In addition, Brenda Matthews has put together a strong field for the traditional women’s handicap 100 (in which the entrants run different distances — the youngest go the farthest):
Lorraine Tucker
Brenda Matthews
Nadine O’ Conner
Rita Hanscom
Jeanne Bowman
Linda Cohn
Mark Cleary is organizing the men’s and women’s 800 meters at Mt. SAC. Haven’t seen those entrants yet.
I’ll be at Mt. SAC this weekend (after skipping a year to take my family to Hawaii for spring break 2006). Look for photos and a report next week.
2 Responses
I am very happy that Jeff Williams is coming back with the Masters.I remember the days when he was training at Birmingham High School. I used to think: Who is this lanky and flaquito who runs fast? Welcome Jeff and show your 200 meters speed again. Never too late.
I found this website late. Is there a way to get in touch with Jeff Williams? I’d like to get some advice from him.
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