Monique Williams (athlete)

rdf:langString Monique Williams (athlete)

rdf:langString Monique Williams

rdf:langString Monique Williams

rdf:langString Tokoroa, New Zealand

rdf:langString New Zealand

rdf:langString Monique Williams (born 23 September 1985) is a New Zealand sprinter from Tokoroa. Williams became the first New Zealand female sprinter to win a gold medal at a major world championship event, when she won the 200 m at the World University Games (Universiade) in Belgrade during 2009. In doing so she became only the second Kiwi sprinter to win gold at a world event, after Don Jowett won the 220 yards at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Williams was selected as the flag Bearer for New Zealand at the 2009 Universiade. During her development years, in 2006 she was awarded a New Zealand Prime Minister's Scholarship from Helen Clark, recognising Williams as an emerging and talented New Zealander. Williams won three consecutive New Zealand Athletics titles in the 100, 200 and 400 m in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Williams holds the New Zealand national record for 200 m (22.90s), which she set at the IAAF 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, eclipsing her previous record of 22.98 in February that year and 22.96 in the opening heats in Berlin. The New Zealand national record had stood for almost 31 years, before it was first broken by Williams. In 2009 Williams was named Auckland's North Shore Sports Personality of the Year and was short-listed for the Halberg Awards. Williams graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Education in primary school teaching and is a qualified primary school teacher.