WORLD Championships 100m hurdles champion Danielle Williams was given a rousing welcome at her alma mater, the The Queen’s School on Monday morning where she was honoured and presented with several gifts and tokens.

Williams, who is fast becoming a household name in Jamaica and, by extension, the world, after striking gold in Beijing, says those smiling faces at The Queen’s School made her day.

“I was honoured by my high school, a wonderful reception and I couldn’t ask for anything else. I couldn’t be more happy. I received a plaque and a gift,” Williams told the Jamaica Observer.

“….the warm welcome, smiles, applause and that was more meaningful than any gift I have ever got,” noted Williams, as hundreds of students showered her with love.

In attendance were three top government officials in the powerful Dr Vin Lawrence, the chairman of the school; Natalie Neita-Headley, the minister with responsibility for sports and former head girl and Miss World winner, Lisa Hanna, the minister of youth and culture.

Dr Warren Blake, the former PNP caretaker for West Central St Andrew and now president of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA), was also on hand along with past students Grace Jackson, the 1988 Olympic 200m silver medallist, and Olive McNaughton, who captained the school to Champs victory in 1978.

Williams, 22, who attended The Queen’s School between 2003 and 2010, won the women’s 100m hurdles at the World Championships in a personal best of 12.57 seconds.

Weeks after her triumph which helped Jamaica finished second in the medals table with seven gold and 12 medals in total, she is still taking the achievement in stride.

“To be honest I am not feeling any different, I mean…well in places like this and environment like this, this is what makes it feel like I really did accomplish something. Outside of this it is really normal,” Williams pointed out.

“I got a weekend for my family at any resort of my choice in Jamaica and that wouldn’t normally happen. Free complimentary all-inclusive weekend,” she added.

The Queen’s have been dominating netball of late but it has been 37 years since they last won the athletics title and track and field captain Simwally Simpson said Williams’ victory has brought renewed excitement to the track programme.

“It has been very impactful on our track team as now we have a surplus of girls coming on the team wanting to do other events, wanting to make us proud and so as to Danielle’s victory, we are very hopeful that it will make us a top school in 2016,” said Simpson.

The team now has approximately 52 athletes and Simpson said prior to Williams’ victory, the pre-training camp was dull and boring.

“After Danielle’s victory everybody was here early, ecstatic and training went well; it was superb,” she noted.

Meanwhile, there is a third hurdling Williams sister on the horizon in 14-year-old Abigail, who is also on the track team and Danielle noted that she is just continuing the sister act started by Shermaine.

“Yes, she is in third form, like me she is not all that good at this level,” said Danielle smiling.

Danielle will be leaving the island shortly where she is expected to return to the North Carolina University under the watchful eyes of Lennox Graham.

“I go back to training in a week and a half and get serious again. I enjoyed my stay here but I have to, unfortunately, go back and work on my career,” said Williams.