Ball State junior Amber Williams will compete with the best athletes in the world when she runs the 100-meter hurdles Friday at the USA Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis.
Assistant coach Steve Rajewsky said there isn't any pressure to perform to a certain level. Instead, Williams will just enjoy the rare chance to compete with the world's best.
"It's a great opportunity for her to be there," Rajewsky said. "She put herself in that position with the work she's done this season. I think this is just icing on the cake."
Before her third season, Williams had never advanced to the finals heat in the NCAA Regional Championships. Now, the junior will be running in a field that includes Olympians and world champions.
"It's a big thing for me to run with some of the best in the world, let alone the country," Williams said. "To even run next to them and to make it as far as I have is amazing."
Williams said it's more important to record a good time than finish near the top of the field.
"I just want to break 13 seconds," Williams said. "I definitely have plans on breaking that this weekend. That would be a continuation of the gradual improvement I've made from meet to meet this year."
Regardless of how well she performs, Williams hopes the experience helps give her the opportunity to be a track athlete after her collegiate career.
"I'm trying to get ready for the [Olympic] trials," Williams said. "This will give me a leg up if I can get a good race under my belt because the majority of people at this meet will be the same people I'm running against after college."
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