Sprinter Lauryn Williams Added to Kansas Relays Field

April 17, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Former Olympic sprinter Lauryn Williams is set to compete in the Kansas Relays this year, marking the return of the women’s Invitational 100-Meter Dash in the 84th edition of the track and field event.

Williams burst onto the sprint scene in 2004. After closing out her collegiate career at Miami with an NCAA championship, Williams went on to qualify for her first Olympics in dramatic fashion. A month later at the Olympic trials in Sacramento, Calif., Williams edged track and field legend Gail Devers by .01 second in the Olympic trials to finish third and claim the final spot on the Olympic team.

That summer in Athens, Williams won a silver medal in the 100-meter dash. She then continued her reign over the event a year later when she won the 2005 World Championship.

Two years later, Williams looked as though she had her second world title. Five women crossed the finish line nearly simultaneously with Williams appearing to be the winner. But further review proved Veronica Campbell-Brown to be the winner with Williams in a close second and she earned a World silver medal.

Williams has also been part of two World Championship-winning 400-meter relays teams and won gold indoors in 2006.

Williams is also active in philanthropy and was named the 2006 Visa Humanitarian of the Year. She is active in community outreach through U.S.A. Track and Field’s “Be a Champion” program and volunteers in a unique way at a Miami elementary school, assisting a class of deaf students who teach her sign language.

Tickets for the 84th Kansas Relays can be purchased at Memorial Stadium or online at KUAtheltics.com. Advance orders can also be made by emailing the KU ticket office at kuticketsku.edu or by calling 800-34-HAWKS.