After a subpar performance in her last meet, Ball State hurdler Amber Williams chose to forgo the 2008 Olympic trials to return to Ball State University for her senior year.
Williams used last season as a competitive redshirt to train for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing after posting a 100-meter-hurdle time of 13.18 seconds in the 2007 NCAA outdoor championships.
Her personal best would have seeded her in the low 20s at the trials, but chronic shin splints prevented her from running her best during the past couple months, she said.
Williams said she had a meeting with Cardinals' coach Randy Heisler in the middle of June to discuss her future. The two decided making a trip to the Olympic trials was not in the best interest of Williams' career.
"I am disappointed, but not at the same time," Williams said. "I've had injuries since I've been here at Ball State, and that's something you just have to deal with as an athlete. The best thing for me to do was to rest up and make sure my shins heal so I can get ready for next season when I can put my Ball State uniform back on."
Even though Williams had a solid qualification time for the trials, Heisler said the decision was a no-brainer. With no chance to make the team or run to the best of her ability, Williams would have forfeited her redshirt had she decided to compete at the Olympic trials.
Heisler said the risk of not having a chance to compete next season far outweighed the reward of being provided with a good experience.
"I talked to her, and I was like, 'Amber, you're not healthy right now, and you're run down,'" Heisler said. "'You can go out there and run one round, and it could be a good experience, but is that really worth it?' When you're talking about athletes who train four years for that one event, you don't go to the trials and have a bad day. I made the decision talking with Amber that I wasn't willing to give up next season's eligibility for one race."
During her time away from competition with the Cardinals, Williams witnessed younger teammate Katie Johnson win the 100-meter title at the Mid-American Conference Championships. Johnson's victory followed Williams' first-place showing in the 2006-07 meet.
Williams said watching her younger teammate follow her in winning the 100-meter title was one of the highlights of her career.
"I felt like a proud mom," Williams said with a laugh. "It was like, 'My babies! I'm so proud!' I never thought I'd knew what that felt like when my parents watch me, but that's how I felt out there. I was probably the most nervous person out there."
While Williams' best event will be the 60- and 100-meter hurdles next season, Heisler said, it won't be the only thing the fifth-year senior will be expected to dominate in. Williams said her best asset as a hurdler is her speed, and Heisler's plan is to utilize that speed to its highest potential.
"We're going to run her in a lot of the sprints," Heisler said. "At the same time, we're not going to neglect her ability to run the hurdles. When it comes time to compete at the conference meet, she's going to be running the hurdles."
Williams said she has watched every day of the 2008 Olympic trials, which began June 27 and conclude July 6. As she watches, the knowledge that her personal best was low enough to make the trip gives her sufficient motivation, she said.
Even though the 2008 Olympics are set to kick off in a month, Williams said she had one overriding thought - the chance to extend her track career past Ball State.
"I'm coming back with vengeance," Williams said. "The MAC is not going to look forward to my return. At the same time, the Olympics are always in the back of my mind. Since the trials began, all I've thought about is being able to go to the Olympics in 2012. While everyone is talking Beijing, right now I'm thinking London."
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