Boldon compares Briana to a Samurai warrior

New 100 metres World Under-18 record holder Briana Williams has the fight of a Samurai warrior.

That's the assessment of her coach, 1997 World 200 metres champion Ato Boldon. The Trinidad and Tobago sprint hero is thrilled for his young Jamaican charge but is especially pleased with the way she competed at the National Championships.

Williams, the 2018 World Under-20 100 and 200 metres champion, placed third in the National 100 final in 10.94 seconds, 0.04 better than the old world mark.

"I am very satisfied with how she competed because regardless of what the time was, I told her, I said. Listen, you could run 12 flat. Just be in the top three because the most important thing is to compete," said the coach. "I told her, 'I don't care.' You need to have your Briana Williams start. She did that, I said and then you need to fight."

The youngster faced eventual winner Elaine Thompson in the semi-final. "She sent me a voice mail, a voice recording on WhatsApp this morning," Boldon said after the final. "Coach I don't feel any kind of nervous. I know I'm in Elaine's semi-final. I welcome it. I love Elaine. It's going to be fun."

He continued: "When Elaine catches you in the semi-final, if she catches you, stop. I said, let's save all our fight for the final."

Proud of her overall performance, he said: "When she shows up to a championship, that girl is locked in like a Samurai warrior."

Boldon has targeted aspects of her big race for improvement but said, "How am I going to complain? I have a 17-year-old. She's not yet 17 and a half, that just ran 10.94. Nobody that age has ever run faster, so I'm excited for her. I'm thrilled for her," he said. The previous World Under-18 record was 10.98 seconds.