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Lead Stories: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Lauryn Williams on Marion Jones and News Media

Posted October 14th, 2007 at 6:45 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Lauryn Williams (runner on the left in photo), the diminutive sprinter with an impressive list of accolades, writes articulately and passionately in her blog about the Marion Jones doping situation and the lack (and wrong kind) of media attention her sport generates.

In describing her feelings upon seeing Marion Jones’ teary-eyed announcement, Williams writes:

I am back and forth between sad for her unfortunate situation and angry at the mess she has created and left for current athletes to clean up… What happened to Marion is very unfortunate. Although many will believe she got what she deserved, I don’t think it is for me nor anyone to judge or prescribe.

She doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to her feelings about the media and its misinformed coverage of track & field:

I am disgusted that we couldn’t get ESPN coverage of the world championships in Osaka. At least a brief highlight of the Americans who medaled would have been nice. But Marion’s story made SportsCenter for the whole day and is still a topic now five days later. People wanted to give their expert opinion about a sport they know nothing about. America doesn’t watch us because we are very seldom televised. That is why no one knows anything of our sport except the drug scandal. And I’m confused about the timing as she explained first taking the drug. Sept. of 2000? Wasn’t the original statement 1999? If I am unsure of the info I am getting just imagine how people that are uneducated about our sport are misconstruing the facts and spreading this misinformation.

Williams’ career highlights include the following:

• 2007 IAAF World Championships 100m Silver medalist
• 2005 PB of 10.88 in the 100m (2005 Weltklasse Zurich)
• 2005 PB of 22.27 in the 200m (2005 Adidas Classic)
• 2005 4 x 100m World Champion
• 2005 IAAF World Championships 100m Gold Medalist
• 2004 Finance Degree (University of Miami)
• 2004 Olympic 100m Silver Medalist
• 2004 3rd in 100m at the US Olympic trials
• 2004 NCAA 100m Champion
• 2003 Pan Am 100m and 4×100m relay gold medalist
• 2002 World Junior gold medalist 100m, silver in 4×100 relay
• 2002 US Junior 100m Champion

You can read more at Lauryn Williams’ blog: [WCSN]
Source: [LaurynWilliams.net]

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