Lavanya Williams (born 8 December 2005) is a Jamaican sprinter.
Early life Williams attended Rusea's High School in Hanover, Jamaica, and later attended William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, Jamaica.
Career
2021 In 2021, she won her age-group 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2021 (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, winning in 12.18 (-2.4 m/s) in the 100 metres and the 200 metres in 24.50 (-1.3 m/s). Later that season, she competed at the NACAC U18 Championships finishing 5th in 200 metres in 24.71s.
2023 She was runner-up to Sabrina Dockery over 100 metres at the Purewater/JC/R. Danny Williams Invitational Track and Field Development Meet in January 2023. Williams was a silver medalist in the women's 4 x 100 metres at the 2023 Pan American U20 Athletics Championships in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. She was also a finalist over 200 metres at the Championships.
2026 Williams is a member of Dynamic Speed athletic club. In February 2026 Williams recorded a win in 7.17 seconds against Elaine Thompson-Herah over 60 metres at the Camperdown Classic, before placing second behind her the following week in 7.28 seconds at the SW Isaac Henry Invitational in Jamaica. Williams ran a personal best 7.13 seconds for the 60 metres (+1.0) at the 2026 Gibson McCook Relays in Kingston. On 7 March, she placed second behind Jonielle Smith in a wind-assisted 6.99 (+2.3) for the 60 metres at the 2026 Jamaican World Indoor Trials, having run a 7.07s (+0.3) personal best in the heats.
On 4 April 2026, Williams won the 100 metres at the Miramar Invitational in Florida, with a wind-assisted time of 10.99 seconds (+2.6 m/s). At Velocity Fest on 19 April, Williams lowered her personal best twice for the 100 m, running 11.04 in the semi-final and 10.96 in the final. She was named in the Jamaica squad for the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, and ran in the women's 4 x 100 metres relay as part of the Jamaican team which won their heat on the opening day of competition. The following day, she ran the third leg, passing the baton to Elaine Thompson-Herah, as Jamaica won the gold medal in 42.00 seconds. Later that month, she won the 200 m with a personal best 23.09 seconds at the Coqui International Cup in Puerto Rico. On 31 May, she set a new personal best 10.95 to place second in the 100 metres at the 2026 Diamond League in Rabat. On 21 June, Williams was runner-up to Alana Reid in the 200 metres final at the 2026 Jamaican Athletics Championships, in a personal best 22.44 seconds. She also placed sixth in the final of the 100 metres. In July 2026, she won the gold medal in the 100 m at the 2026 NACAC U23 Championships. Later at the championships she won the silver medal behind Reid in the 200 m final. She was a finalist in the 200 metres at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, placing fifth overall. Later at the Games, she won a gold medal in the women's relay. In September, Williams was a finalist over 100 m at the inaugural World Ultimate Championship in Budapest, placing seventh overall.
Athletics achievements Information from her World Athletics profile unless otherwise noted. Personal bests TypeDistanceTime (s)Wind (m/s)VenueDateNotesIndividual eventsOutdoor60 metres7.07+0.3Spanish Town, Jamaica7 March 2026100 metres10.90+0.7Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic22 August 2026200 metres22.44+1.0Kingston, Jamaica21 June 2026Team eventsOutdoor4 × 100 metres relay41.96Gaborone, Botswana2 May 20264 × 100 metres relay 41.79Miramar, United States4 April 2026 International competitions 2021NACAC U18 ChampionshipsSan José, Costa Rica5th200 m24.712023Pan American U20 ChampionshipsMayagüez, Puerto Rico7th200 m24.742nd4 × 100 m relay45.232026World RelaysGaborone, Botswana1st4 × 100 m relay42.00NACAC U23 ChampionshipsApizaco, Mexico1st100 m10.912nd200 m22.40Commonwealth GamesGlasgow, United Kingdom5th200 m22.621st4 × 100 m relay42.65World Ultimate ChampionshipBudapest, Hungary7th100 m11.07
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