ATHLETICS: Defending champion Williams-Mills skips National Senior trials

Eight time national 400m champion Novlene Williams-Mills has confirmed to The Gleaner that she will be skipping this year's Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships, which starts today at the National Stadium.

Williams-Mills, the defending champion, already has a bye to this year's IAAF World Championships after winning the 400m event in last year's IAAF Diamond Race series and was forced at the last minute to take care of some 'personal issues', preventing her from attempting to defend her title here.

It hasn't been a great start for Williams-Mills, who is yet to dip below 51 seconds this season and failed to finish her last race at the New York Grand Prix a few days ago.

She will, however, be hoping to regain the form that saw her winning nine of her 15 races last season and finishing in the top three in the remaining starts on her way to dominating the Diamond League circuit as the World Championships nears.

Williams-Mills' decision not to compete at the trials further clears the way for Commonwealth Games champion Stephanie-Ann McPherson who is expected to continue her solid start to the season here.