
15-year-old Briton Jodie Williams confirmed her vast potential for the future with victory in the 100metres at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Bressanone.
Williams, who got progressively faster through the three qualifying rounds, saved her best for the ultimate prize when flying to the world leading time for the year of 11.39 seconds.
The Hertford Phoenix sprinter was last to rise from her starting blocks but powered to the gold medal ahead of Allison Peter of the US Virgin Islands and the USA's pre-race favourite Ashton Purvis.
Even more remarkable was that Williams achieved her feat carrying a hamstring niggle which erupted when warming up on Wednesday.
Despite that worry, the youngster who came into the meeting joint world leader with Purvis with a mark of 11.48secs, improved in each outing.
But the first really major highlight came in her semi final when Williams' smooth style saw her gain a huge psychological advantage when tearing apart her opponents with a clocking of 11.40.
Then given the helpful lane three for the final and despite her poor start, she recovered to follow in the footsteps of fellow Briton Asha Philip, winner of the gold medal two years ago in Ostrava.
Williams said: "It's amazing, it's just the best feeling ever. Another personal best and a world-leading time.
"I'm so pleased. I didn't think I would be able to do better than in the semis - I thought that would be pushing it.
"But then that happened! I'm really in shock."
The teenager whose time rocketed her to third place in this year's UK senior rankings, added: "This is so important, it's the first step along the line and it's such an amazing feeling to have won.
"I wasn't expecting to win. It's been an incredibly hard year so to do this was really harder."
Williams, looking towards the future, added: "It's the World Juniors next year so I'll be there. I want to carry on and make athletics my career."
While Williams celebrated her older team-mate Shaunna Thompson was coming to terms with losing out on a podium finish, when finishing fourth in a season's best of 11.63.
On another good day for the Aviva GB team, Jack Meredith and Andrew Pozzi moved into the next round of the 110m when winning their heats and setting personal bests of 13.50 and 13.61.
Nathan Wake made the 400m final as a fastest loser after achieving a lifetime best of 46.86 but both Adam Cotton and Rikkie Letch were eliminated in their 800m semis when finishing fifth and sixth.
Rowena Cole progressed into the next round of the 800m when second in her qualifier with a time of 2:06.92 but Oriel Hardman failed to join her.
Jonathan Hay had a tough first round of the 1500m, he was forced to the back of the field in the early stages of the race and despite running 3:55.61 missed out on qualifying by one place.
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