FORMER Carifta Games discus throws champion Cedricka Williams of Barton County College was named co-National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Division 1 Woman Athlete of the week.

This was after significantly improving her discus throw record to 59.46m at the Michael Johnson Invitational at Baylor University on the weekend.

For Williams there’s something special about the discus ring at Baylor

A year after setting one of her NJCAA records there last year, Williams returned to defend her title. This year she won by more than two metres and twice sent the platter more than a metre further than her 57.80m (189-7) record last year – first at 59.16m (194-1) in round four before a 59.46 (195-1) in round six.

Williams has now set or tied the NJCAA record five times, to include three efforts from last year.

Earlier in the day, Williams also qualified for the NJCAA D1 Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw with a personal best of 50.04m (164-2), resulting in a number six rating on the seasonal list.

This is the 12th time that a female athlete from Barton CC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Williams was honoured three times last year, joining Jazmine Williamson (2024), Kelsie Murrel-Ross (2022), Nia Robinson (2021 and 2022), Lashanna Graham (2021), Yoveinny Mota (twice in 2019) and Lydia Mato (2015) in that regard.