Lauren Rain Williams (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
Lauren Rain Williams put herself among the elite names in high school track and field Saturday.
The junior at Westlake Oaks Christian School won the California Southern Section Division 4 championship in the 200 meters in a wind-aided 22.44 seconds, which is No. 3 all-time nationally for a high school girl in all conditions.
The time ranks behind only Allyson Felix’s 22.11 and Candace Hill’s 22.43. Both of those were wind legal. The wind gauge was 2.5 meters per second during Williams’ race.
Of note, Williams is the fastest in the United States. Felix and Hill ran their times in international competition.
Williams was selected to the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Girls Track and Field team.
“I knew it would be wind-aided, but that is OK,” Williams told the Ventura County Star. “I know I have it in me to do that now and I will do it legal in the future.”
She also won the 100 meters in 11.17 seconds, No. 4 all-time in California under all conditions. The gauge was 3.5 for the 100. Only Angela Williams, Marion Jones and Felix have run faster.
The Los Angeles Times has video highlights of the meet, including Williams.