WORLD JUNIORS: Williams starts to look to her senior future

By Sportsbeat staff

 JODIE Williams admits she may be ready to make the step up to senior athletics in time for next year's World Athletics Championships in Daegu.

SHOCKED: Jodie Williams is shocked after her 151 race unbeaten run ends but can still look ahead to her senior career with confidence, whenever it comes (Getty Images)

Williams, 16, won 100m gold at the World Junior Athletics Championships in Moncton but settled for silver over 200m - her first defeat in 151 races.

She has previously insisted she would be in no hurry to make the transition - ruling out this October's Commonwealth Games as it clashes with the start of her A-Level studies.

However, her precocious talent cannot be reined in for much longer -

"I've not decided yet about when to move up," she said, following another trip to the podium in Canada.

"I'll see how next season goes but there's a possibility of me stepping up to seniors next year as the European Juniors would be a step down."

"My priority now is to get some rest and relax, I've got a few hols lined up now - including a family holiday in France."

Coach Mike McFarlane's careful stewardship of his young charge's career means no quick decisions will be made on the future, despite those already clamouring to make Williams a rising star poster girl of the London 2012 Olympics.

Despite her tender years, Williams is already ranked in the European top five for 200m this year but McFarlane does not regret the decision to prioritise the World Juniors over next week's European Championships in Barcelona.

"We were always going to do the right thing  and no one was going to tell me any different," he said.

"We already had the plan and the plan was to go to World Juniors to help learn her trade and she's done that and the results are there for all to see and things are going in the right direction.

"Jodie has upped the ante, she's done well this week. I do believe in her running in the age group but equally, when the time is right, we'll step up. It's been a good learning experience and it helps take us into the winter and plan for next year.

"She's going to take some time out, two weeks or so, and get herself together. If she's up for it we'll start training and do a couple of tests and see how she is then we'll decide when we'll run again.

"But this has been a hard week for a 16 year old girl and she's going to need some time to get herself back together."