Jamaican Olympic relay gold medalist Briana Williams walked away from Saturday’s Mt SAC Relays with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism after winning her 200m heat in 23.25 seconds, despite running into a stiff headwind of -2.4 m/s.

The performance was only the seventh-fastest time overall across all heats, but for the 23-year-old sprinter, it represented far more than just a heat victory. It marked the beginning of a new chapter in her sprinting career under the guidance of legendary coach John Smith, with whom she has been working for the past year.

Reflecting on the performance, Williams posted on social media: "This headwind though. I'm still so grateful, this is faster than what I finished with last season. The first 200m of the year complete, so much more to come."

Williams, who represented Jamaica in the victorious 4x100m relay team at the Tokyo Olympics, held off Destiny Smith-Barnett (23.29) and Amari Weatherford (23.75) to take the win in Heat 1. Though the clocking may not have rivaled the fastest of the day — with USC’s Samirah Moody leading the field overall in 22.58 — Williams’ effort in difficult conditions was a step forward in her return to peak form.

Now based in the U.S. and part of a training group led by Smith — known for developing world-class sprinters — Williams is clearly focused on the long game as she eyes a strong 2025 season.

With the 2025 World Athletics Championships cycle now underway, the young Jamaican continues her quest to return to the global podium — this time as an individual contender.