A Super Sophomore Sets Sights on Olympics

Southern California is once again proving itself to be a hotbed for talented sprinters. Two of the three high school track athletes invited to the Olympic trials in June are from the Southland.

Besides Obea Moore of Pasadena Muir, Angela Williams of Chino earned an invitation last summer as a freshman when she recorded a time of 11.24 seconds in the 100 meters at the junior national championships in Walnut.

At 15, she ran the fourth best high school time ever in the United States and the fastest time recorded by a freshman.

Although the experts are saying her chances of making the Olympic team are remote, Williams, 16, is being heralded as the next great U.S. sprinter.

Would losing big to the fastest women in the country be too discouraging for a high school sophomore? Williams says she’ll treat the Olympic trials the same as if she were running against rival schools such as Don Lugo or Montclair.

“People are always worrying about who they’re running against--I don’t,” said Williams, the reigning state champion in the 400. “I’m just out there to have fun. I don’t put that pressure on myself.”

Williams, who maintains a 4.25-grade point average, said she’s also considering a career in medicine. “I’ve been smart and fast since I was little,” Williams said. “As a kid, I used to think God put me on the earth as an angel, to help or teach other people. I think that’s why he blessed me with all this talent.”