Former Gator T&F Star Novlene Williams Takes Home Bronze at Commonwealth Games
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 | Women's Track and Field
Former University of Florida women's track and field standout Novlene Williams won the bronze medal in the 400m race at the Commonwealth Games Tuesday, which are being held in Melbourne, Australia.
Seventy-one different countries are represented at the event with athletes competing in several different sports, such as swimming and diving, track and field as well as weightlifting. The Commonwealth Games is one of the most prestigious annual world track and field meets and is the biggest outdoor track and field meets in the world this year.
Williams, who represented her home country of Jamaica, crossed the finish line in 51.12, with England's Christine Ohuruogu taking the gold with a time of 50.28. Tonique Williams, the gold medal winner in the 400m at the 2004 summer Olympic games, edged Williams at the finish line with a time of 50.76.
Williams will also participate in the 4x400m relay for Jamaica Saturday, the final day of competition for the games.
Over the course of the past 10 days, Williams has ran in seven 400m races, clocking a time under 52 seconds in each. While at UF, she earned five All-American honors over the course of the 2003-04 seasons in the 400m as well as the 4x400m relay. She currently holds the third-fastest outdoor 400m time in school history (51.02) and broke the Stephen C. O'Connell Center record for the 400m with a clocking of 51.91 at the Florida Fast Times meet in earlier this month while running for Adidas.
Fans can follow along with the Commonwealth Games online at www.melbourne2006.com.au.
- UF -
