Running in her first NCAA Outdoor Championships event Wednesday , Ball State University junior Amber Williams broke a school record in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.18 seconds.
Williams' time, which was faster than her seed time of 13.19 seconds, placed her fifth in her heat and was good for 10th in the nation. Nine hurdlers - the top four from each heat and the next-fastest time - make the finals heat.
Although Williams wasn't able to advance to the finals, assistant coach Steve Rajewsky said he was pleased with the junior's performance.
"She picked the right time to get a personal record," Rajewsky said.
In her quarterfinals heat earlier Wednesday, Williams got off to a slow start before recovering in time to advance. Williams finished her quarterfinals heat in 13.35 seconds.
Williams got off to a better start in the semifinals, leading a nearly-even pack through the first three hurdles. Williams was edged out at the finish line in a race that had the first five places separated by less than a tenth of a second.
"I used my sprint speed a lot more," said Williams, who didn't become a hurdler until her senior year of high school. "I drove off the blocks much harder than I did in the prelims. That helped me stay in the game."
Williams' final event of her junior season will be the USA Track and Field Championships, June 21 in Indianapolis. The USA Track and Field Committee selected Williams as an A Standard participant, which will be the top flight of competitors at the Championships.
"I'm very excited for the USA Championships," Williams said. "Even if I go down [to Indianapolis] and don't run my best, it's still about the experience. To go down there and run with the best of the best will be an amazing feeling."
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