T&FN INTERVIEW Lauryn Williams

n athlete who is anything but self-centered, supposed to be doing in training. by Sieg Asprinter Lauryn Williams says she didn’t I’m hitting the times in practice realize she had really special talent until she won that my coach wants me to hit. Lindstrom the NCAA 100 and then Olympic silver as a Mi- But I’m not putting it together ami junior in ’04. Somehow the World Junior and on the track yet. My mechanics Pan-Am Games golds she won the two previous are off. My left leg’s just not lift- years did little to inflate her ego. ing the way it should. Williams turned pro after her perfor- T&FN: Technically speaking, is mance and won gold at the Worlds in the there anything you can feel during next year. But then—after she took silver in the your races that tells you you’ve got ’06 World Indoor 60—she had her first serious a mechanical problem? bout with illness or injury. She sank to a No. 7 Williams: No. Racing feels U.S. 100 Ranking. the same but when I watch the We caught up with the diminutive speedster at video afterwards I can see there’s her Miami home in late May as she worked to put a problem. the aches and pains behind her so she can pursue a T&FN: What do you see? world title defense in this August. Williams: My left leg and right T&FN: How are you doing? leg aren’t doing the same thing. Williams: I’m doing OK. T&FN: I was hoping to ask about T&FN: “OK?” You don’t sound too enthu- your return from last year’s illness siastic. and injury and your thoughts look- Williams: Oh, Williams Facts ing ahead to defending your title. I’m doing all right Williams: Sorry, I don’t want •Personal: born Pitts- but things could be you to mistake my tone for hav- burgh, Pennsylvania, better. The season ing lost hope. I plan to defend September 11, 1983; isn’t off to the best my title in Osaka. I know that 5-3¼/127 (1.61/57) start. I’m just not by the time we get to the World •Schools: Rochester running very well Championships this problem’s HS, Pennsylvania ’01; right now. going to be ironed out and I’ll Miami ’04; now repre- I’ve run a cou- be ready. sents Nike ple of 100s and I am dedicated to becoming •Coach: Amy Deem they were both a better Lauryn Williams than I •Major Meets: 100— 11.4s. It’s been very was in ’05. This bump in the road 6)NCAA, 1)USJr, 1) hard to deal with, is just part of the process. WJr ’02; 3)NCAA, 7) but we’re working I know I’m still one of the best USATF, 1)PanAm ’03; on it. in the world and I just feel that 1)NCAA, 3)OT, 2)OG; T&FN: Last year by the time we get to Osaka I’ll 3)USATF, 1)WC ’05; you had walking be ready to show the world that. 2)USATF ’06. 60—2) pneumonia and a T&FN: You’ve said this was the USATF Ind, 2)WIC ’06 hamstring injury. first time you have ever been injured, •World/U.S. Rank- Are you still having at least to the extent any ache or pain ings: 100: ’02—x, 9; problems? has slowed you down. That itself is ’03—x, 7; ’04—4, 1; Williams: I re- amazing. Is there any positive to ’05—3, 1; ’06—11, 7. covered from the finally experiencing what it’s like 200: ’05—9, 4 pneumonia. The to have a serious injury? hamstring’s better Williams: Being injured is but not 100%. No- truly humbling and a definite body’s ever been learning experience. You take able to diagnose exactly what’s going on for granted being healthy and with it. pain-free and though you may T&FN: But you’re obviously back racing. sympathize with people when Williams: Yes, the season’s here and time they are hurt and hope they get is of the essence. My training is going well, better soon, you have absolutely actually, so we’re just trying to get the actual no idea how an injury truly tests race together. your character and your desire to T&FN: So you’re rehabbing the hamstring, be a great athlete. getting therapy on it and working out. You say Better now than as an older you’re not running well, but on the other hand athlete: 1. Because when you’re your training is good. old your body doesn’t respond Williams: I mean that I’m doing what I’m the same and, 2. This has been a

14 — July 2007 Track & Field News learning experience so I have this wis- area as an Olympic medalist opened doors for dom in the event of future problems. meeting business people? “You have absolutely It’s just difficult after winning in Williams: Not really but having gone to Helsinki, then getting off to a great the University of Miami I know a lot of Miami no idea how an start indoors in ’06 and knowing how football players who are in the NFL now and great training had been going heading I’ve gotten to know some of the business injury truly tests into outdoors I couldn’t help feeling people in their entourages whom I might be like I was going to run faster than I able to tap for their expertise. your character and ever had as soon as I stepped on the track. your desire to be I was expecting to run sub- Williams Helped By Her Friends 11 the majority of my races last When Lauryn Williams won in Helsinki it a great athlete” year, and then with the pneu- was apparent that there was a lot of great team monia and then the hamstring spirit, especially among the younger U.S. team I just couldn’t do it. members. Were any of those athletes a help to Then I had to watch as her during her injury period? had the kind “Oh, yeah. , Sanya Rich- of season I was hoping to have. ards, . That’s kind of my Full credit to her; she went out hang-with crew. They’ve been really supportive. and did it, but it was tough not “Sanya and I kind of consider ourselves being able to respond. ambassadors for the sport and realize our voice T&FN: Has experiencing being heard is contingent on our success on the injury altered your approach to track. Sanya had such a great season last year, training? a really great season. Williams: Like I’ve said, it’s “I kind of felt bad that I wasn’t holding a 9-to-5 now, between getting up my end of the bargain while watching her therapy and massages and accomplish things similar to what I want to making sure I’m doing every- accomplish, but she’s been very encouraging.” thing I possibly can to rehab and strengthen my leg. T&FN: Have you changed your I’ve found that it’s really important for me training? to stay busy. I’ve been hoping to do some more Williams: Only in terms of the with my sign-language tutoring but I haven’t little things like making sure I always been able to work that in lately. Just trying to do the stretching and cooling down get healthy is taking up a lot of time right now. after the workout—whereas before I T&FN: Do you think that if you had taken 4 kind of treated it as optional. I make sure I do everything I’m Williams Lends A Helping Hand supposed to. You know, like all 20 of Lauryn Williams has been very involved as an exercise I hate, instead of an ambassador for the sport with USATF, pro- maybe doing 17 or so and moting track & field in schools and so on. Does deciding that’s good enough. she think those activities away from the track T&FN: You graduated from contributed to her getting hurt or have made it Miami in 3½ years with a degree in harder to get back? finance. Have you done anything “Oh, no. Whatever people think about how with that? hard we work—or how hard we don’t work as Williams: Not too much world-class athletes… Don’t get me wrong— recently. I had an internship what we do is hard work but we’re at the track with Citibank in the finance for like 3½ hours a day. Most people work 8 department. hours a day. Actually, at the moment I’m “When you think about it that way, we’re studying for my Series 7 [stock very fortunate and I feel it is the least I could and securities broker’s] Exam do to spend time doing things that benefit oth- and completing the post-licens- ers. Plus I get bored easily. I need something to ing for my real estate license. keep me busy. Why not things that help others?” The Series 7 book is hu- mongous so I’ll probably take it with me to study while I’m running years to graduate from Miami instead of 3½ you in Europe this summer. might have accomplished more athletically in T&FN: So you’re creating several college—not that winning an NCAA 100 title as options for when you finally do retire? a junior is chopped liver. Williams: Yes. What I’m hoping to Williams: Not at all. That happened be- do is make use of some of the contacts cause I kept making U.S. teams. My freshman I have and maybe, like with real estate year I made the World Juniors team and since for example, follow somebody around I was going to be around all summer training, who’s doing it—I mean somebody I figured I might as well take classes. Then who’s really good at selling houses— the next summer I made the Pan-Am Games and learn how they do it. team, so why not take classes? T&FN: Has your fame in the Miami Besides, summer school’s a lot easier.

The Bible Of The Sport July 2007 — 15

KAZU EGUCHI/PHOTO RUN Williams (from p. 15)

You’re taking two classes instead of four. T&FN: How did you get started in track? Williams: I was 9 years old and my mom just didn’t want me hanging around the house doing nothing. I was always pretty fast. My mom will tell the story of my being able to outrun our Ger- man Shepard. If you ask my dad, he’ll tell you I got my start when he took me to the science center in Pittsburgh and I started racing this hologram they had of Flojo. I kept trying and eventually I beat the hologram. My dad says he knew then that I had a gift. T&FN: How is your dad, by the way? I recall

“Being tall doesn’t have anything to do with it, as far as I’m concerned. I think anybody can run fast.”

that he was ill when he watched you run in Athens. Williams: He’s doing good. His leukemia is in remission and he’s on a list for a kidney transplant. So he’s doing pretty well. T&FN: Have you ever felt that your height [5‑3¼] puts you at a disadvantage as a sprinter? Williams: I’ve never thought of it that way. Besides, a lot of top women sprinters are short. Lisa Barber’s about my height. Ve- ronica Campbell, who got the bronze medal in Athens, isn’t tall. Being tall doesn’t have anything to do with it, as far as I’m concerned. I think anybody can run fast. T&FN: A lot of athletes, especially when they turn pro early, head off to one of the high-profile enclaves. You’ve stayed with Amy Deem. Williams: When it’s not broken, don’t fix it right? She knows me inside and out as an athlete. Our communication is excellent. We disagree almost never. Also I’m privileged to work out on the same track, in the same weightroom and with access to the same training staff I had when I was in college. I’m very thankful for that. T&FN: Anything else we should know about your plans for this season? Williams: Well, I’m looking forward to get- ting back to Sub-11. Do you know about that? T&FN: That’s your scholarship fund? Williams: Yes. I’m going to donate $1000 for every sub-11 race I run. That didn’t happen last year, but I’m looking forward to reviving it this season. Also… Well, I’d rather not get into details, but I want to donate more to charity. Maybe it jinxed me last year so I’d better not say more. T&FN: If charitable intentions jinxed you, then there’s no justice in this world. I don’t think it could have been that. Williams: Yeah, I guess you’re probably right.

42 — July 2007 Track & Field News