Tobi Amusan

Despite finishing second in the 100m hurdles with a season-best time of 12.46, Williams displayed confidence and determination as she spoke about her performance and her preparations leading up to the national trials at the end of June.

Looking on, it appeared that Williams had an early lead before losing momentum mid-race which allowed world-record holder, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan to surge through to out-lean Williams at the line.

Amusan won in a world-leading 12.40 with the USA’s Christina Clemons finishing third in 12.54.

Williams explained what she believed occurred in the race.

"I didn’t feel like I slowed down in the middle of the race. I touched one of the hurdles which has been my Achilles heel so far," Williams commented. "Still working on it so that was probably what happened but I feel like I was still able to get back the momentum to through to the end. I feel like we’re going in the right direction."

Williams highlighted the importance of being healthy this season, expressing gratitude for her current condition compared to previous years. "Oh, we give God thanks for that because for the past few seasons this time of the year I’ve always been dealing with something," she explained. "So to make it so far and we’re doing very good, we’re managing the injuries, I think we’re in a good spot."

Looking ahead to the upcoming national trials, which are six weeks away, Williams deferred to her coach, Lennox Graham, but emphasized her confidence in her current form. "I don’t necessarily know how close we are," she admitted. "Coach Lennox Graham designed the workouts, I just show up so I don’t know where we are for that but I know we are in very good shape. We’re doing awesome in training, we’re healthy so we’re just giving God glory and thanking Him for bringing us so far and asking Him to carry us for the rest of the way."

The Jamaica Athletics Invitational also witnessed strong performances from other athletes, including Daniel Roberts of the USA, who won the 110m hurdles in 13.17, and Eric Edwards, also from the USA, who finished second with a time of 13.33. Jamaican hurdler Lafranz Campbell secured third place in the event with a time of 13.37.

The Nigerian champion, who is coached by Jamaican Olympian Lacena Golding-Clarke, has revealed that the AIU has slapped her with a charge that could see her suspended from the sport for up to two years.

"Today the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged me with an alleged rule violation for having 3 missed tests in 12 months,” she said. “I intend to fight this charge and will have my case decided by a tribunal of three arbitrators before the start of next month’s World Championships.”

Amusan holds the world record for the event and has been rounding into form after early season struggles with injury. On Tuesday, she followed her win in 12.34 at Sunday’s Diamond League meeting in Silesia with a 12.35 winning performance in Szekesfehervar, holding off 2019 world champion Nia Ali, who clocked 12.41 and Alaysha Johnson was third in 12.50.

She insists that she is innocent of the charges that the AIU has laid against her and expressed confidence that she will be cleared in short order.

“I am a CLEAN athlete, and I am regularly (maybe more than usual) tested by the AIU,” she wrote on Instagram. “I was tested within days of my third “missed test”. I have faith that this will be resolved in my favour and that I will be competing at the World Championships in August.”