Being healthy during the preseason for the first time in the past few seasons was a key factor behind Danielle Williams’ indoor personal best at the Clemson Invitational in South Carolina on Saturday.
Williams, 27, who won the bronze medal in the 100m hurdles at the 2019 World Championships in Doha last October, clocked a fast 23.12 to win the event. The time was well below her previous best of 23.43 set in Birmingham, Alabama on March 9, 2013.
In 2019, Williams a severe ankle sprain hampered her pre-season preparations. This year, things have been much different.
“Background training has been going well. This is the first indoor season in three years that I haven't been injured so I've been able to put in some work and this race is an indication of that,” she told Sportmax.TV Sunday.
Williams, the 2015 World Champion, had an outstanding year in 2019 when she won the Diamond League title and set a new national record of 12.32s in London. She capped off the year winning the bronze medal in Doha.
With all that now behind her, she said she is focussed on her preparation in this Olympic year and enjoying herself.
“Last World's had no bearings on yesterday's race. It was all about competing and having fun in an event I don't get to race often,” she said.
“Any lessons I've taken from the last season in its entirety is to focus on what I can control, drown out the noise and just compete.”