Breaking school records and going to the NCAA championships? Usually, those things come from upperclassmen. Rebecca Williams has accomplished both in only her sophomore year.

At this year’s Big 12 Championships, Williams broke the 100-meter hurdle school record with a time of 13.31.

The record was set four years ago by Aurelia Trywianska, who ran 13.32.

The record Williams now holds has raised the expectations of sprint coach Scott Roberts.

“We thought it would take ’til her junior year before we could expect her to go to the national meet,” Roberts said. “In high school, she was only a 14 second 100-meter hurdler. And now two years later, she had already ran a 13.31.”

Roberts said the best is absolutely still to come for Williams.

“Our benchmark goal by her senior year is to drop her time in the 100 hurdles under 13 seconds and to win a few All-American honors in the outdoor season,” Roberts said. “We want to improve on running mechanics and flat-out speed over the next few years.”

Williams has high expectations and is not surprised by her early success. She also believes she can continue to drop time and be an All-American before she graduates. After taking the record from Trywianska, Williams now has more goals in track.

“[Aurelia] is one of the fastest in the world,” Williams said. “It makes me realize that I can be one of the best in the world. I am nowhere near my peak. I know that it might take a few more years to get to the top.”

Roberts said that Trywianska and Williams are different athletes but have some similarities.

“They both study and have knowledge about the event,” Roberts said. “Although we have a ways to go with Rebecca to do great with technique, [she’s] only a sophomore.”

Roberts said that Williams’ calming presence helps her teammates.

“She has a solid work ethic and is not afraid to work hard. Rebecca is an interested student of the event,” Roberts said. “She is cool under pressure. Whether or not it’s a big race, she is never too nervous. She handles pressure well.”

Williams has achieved many highlights in her two years competing for the Cyclones. Last year, her freshman year, she earned a time of 13.63 in the Midwest Regional preliminaries.

Before Williams came to Iowa State, she was crowned the Class 5A Arizona state champion in the 300-meter hurdles from 2000 to 2002. Those accomplishments caught the eye of Roberts.

“We scout the whole country looking for recruits,” Roberts said. “We liked what we saw from Williams and sent her a questionnaire. She sent it back and showed interest; it has worked out great.”

So why would the Arizona star compete in track at Iowa State?

“I was looking for a place that was different; just wanted a change,” Williams said. “Coach Roberts was consistent when he was recruiting me. He told me about the program and the progression of the athletes at Iowa State.

“It has worked out good since I have already dropped six-tenths of a second from my high school time.”