Jeter and Williams win Owens Award

Sprinter Carmelita Jeter and high jumper Jesse Williams were honoured yesterday as recipients of the Jesse Owens Award as outstanding US athletes of 2011.

Jeter, the 31-year-old sprinter who broke through for her first world title, a 100m triumph at the World Championships in South Korea, was pleased with the recognition but not about to let it dim her laser-like focus on next year’s London Olympics.

“I definitely needed to show myself that I could win a championship,” said Jeter, who spoke about the award on a conference call from the beach where she was training.

“It was a weight lifted off my shoulders. This definitely gives me momentum for 2012.”

Jeter also anchored the US women’s victorious 4x100m relay at the World Championships, where she earned silver in the 200m. She said a more professional approach to her job had paid off this season.

“You take care of your body more, eat well, rest well, and a lot of that contributes to how I was performing,” she said.

Williams became the first American to win a high jump world title since Charles Austin in 1991.

“I knew I could make a historical impact for the US in my event. It’s a big honour,” he said.