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9. Briana Williams, Tamari Davis Sign Professional Contracts 11 Days Within One Another, Once Again Showing This Florida Rivalry Has Legs
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On January 19, Briana Williams officially became a professional athlete, signing with the apparel giant Nike on a multi-year contract. At 17, she became one of the youngest track and field athletes ever to sign with the company.
Eleven days later, on January 30, 16-year-old Tamari Davis followed suit, inking with rival adidas. Davis did in fact become the youngest athlete to ever sign with adidas.
This moment can't be understated.
While transactional, it points to a very clear journey for these two women, who may or may not be linked throughout their career timelines, and as their Olympic journeys take shape.
While Williams has had the more illustrious career so far, hitting a wind-legal mark of 10.94 seconds in the 100m and a handful of other very impressive performances -- including two sprint golds at the World U20 Championships -- Davis remains a little younger, just as motivated, and perhaps with a chip on her shoulder. She owns a personal best of 11.13 seconds.
Williams seems bound for the Olympics as soon as this year for Jamaica, though it's not guaranteed.
And the road there will not be easy. That remains especially so Davis, who has yet to represent the United States at the international level. As a teenager, she will not have the luxury of college competition. And she will have to continue to develop year after year in order to get where she needs to go.
But the fact remains that this rivalry, the origins of which began in Florida as these two teenagers first squared off in local and state competition, could be one of the more entertaining storylines to be mindful of over the next five years.