Track: Lauren Rain Williams is running up to expectations

The CIF state track and field championships are set for Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High School in Clovis, and one of the expected standouts of the weekend should be sophomore Lauren Rain Williams of Westlake Village Oaks Christian.

She was part of four winning races on Friday at the Southern Section Masters Meet, winning the girls’ 100, 200 and participating on two relay teams. The Lions could win a state title.

Williams’ rise to prominence is no surprise. She was featured as a 12-year-old in a 2012 ESPN The Magazine article entitled, “Women Who Will Change Way Sports Are Played.”

She attended Long Beach Poly last year but didn’t compete as a freshman after deciding to transfer to Oaks Christian.

Oaks Christian Coach Wesley Smith also coached Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix at L.A. Baptist and sees similarities between the two, including that the 200 is their best event.

“They’re very smooth and fast and make it look effortless,” he said.

Williams is so fast that Athletic Director Jan Hethcock said, “They ought to teach her how to catch the ball and make her a wideout.”

She will be around in the fall during football season. She’s a student trainer, and if anyone needs help on the field, she’ll be the blur sprinting at full speed ahead.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer