NATIONAL junior discus record holder and Holmwood Technical High School standout Cedricka Williams is set to continue her development next season at Barton Junior College in the United States.

Dave Anderson, coach of Holmwood, told the Jamaica Observer that after doing their research, Barton Junior College was the best choice for Williams based on where she is currently in her development.

“Based on the options that were presented and offered to her, I think that at the end of the day Barton was the best choice,” said Anderson.

“I think that one would have hoped for her to go straight into a Division One or Divisional Two university but that didn’t work out and so we moved to our next option, which is to send her to Barton.

“We would have done our research and Barton has a very good throwing programme, and I trust the coach will continue on her journey and take her to the next level and, eventually, she will transition to a university in the United States,” Anderson said.

The 19-year-old Williams, who is the national junior discus record holder with a mark of 57.84 metres, has been very dominant this season. She won the event at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships but she picked up a silver medal at the Carifta Games in The Bahamas after she was beaten by St Jago’s Abigail Martin.

However, Williams returned to beat Martin at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to retain her Championships of America discus title in a new meet record of 57.23m.

Williams is now set to represent the country at the NACAC Under-23 Championships, which will be held in Costa Rica July 21-23. Anderson added that he is expecting an excellent showing from Williams at the championships.

“I think that she will do extremely well here even though it is going to be high-quality competition. But, she is fit and she is also confident, and so I am expecting great things from here,” he said.