New ruling hobbles world-ranked sprinter

World-ranked Hamilton sprinter Monique Williams has just had her most successful year – but she will not be recognised for it at the Waikato Regional Sports Awards.

Williams, who lives in Hamilton and is originally from Tokoroa where she is still a member of the Tokoroa Amateur Athletic Club, last week won the South Waikato Sportsperson of the Year for the second year in a row, having achieved a world ranking of 12th in the women's 200 metres with her semifinal qualification at the world athletics championships in Berlin. She twice smashed her own national record there.

Normally that would mean an automatic nomination for the Waikato regional sportswoman of the year, but she has been told by Sport Waikato chief executive Matthew Cooper she is ineligible as she represents Auckland not Waikato-Bay of Plenty through her membership of the Bays Cougars club on the North Shore.

A Sport Waikato spokesperson confirmed the relevant criteria had changed last year. Judging took place earlier this week and Williams' name was not among the nominations.

"It's a bit disappointing because every other year I've been in these awards and I've been a finalist before, too," Williams said. "But I don't want to get all worked up about it. If that's the ruling, then that's the ruling."

Williams believes the fact she also won sportswoman of the year at last week's Harbour Sport regional sports awards at Takapuna has cost her the chance at the Waikato title.

"It's just a bit weird that it should happen this year of all years when I've had my best ever year."

Cooper said Williams was a "fantastic New Zealand athlete" who was achieving on the world stage, but she was ineligible for the Waikato regional awards because of her affiliations.

"Monique hasn't been available for selection for the Waikato regional body to represent Waikato in the Waikato-BoP colours and hence she

- © Fairfax NZ News