ATHENS – Round one went to the young guns. On a U.S. track and field team that is going through a transformation at these Olympics, it was one of the young sprinters who dazzled and one of the veterans who didn’t. Lauryn Williams, the 20-year-old phenom from Miami, ran an impressive 11.03 to advance to today’s semifinal in the 100 meters. Gail Devers, 37, who was trying to win gold for the third time in this event, was the last of 16 qualifiers and was clearly fighting herself. “It’s time for a new era,” said Williams. “We’re young. We’re up. And we’re coming.” The top eight in the semis will advance to tonight’s final – the first premier women’s track event. Williams was faster than LaTasha Colander (11.20) and Devers (11.31). Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus had the fastest qualifying time of 10.99. “I’m just going to go as far as I can go,” said Williams, who appeared to be talking trash to herself when she crossed the finish line. “The meet’s already been a success for me.” Just weeks ago, at the U.S. Olympic Track Team championships, Williams edged Devers by one-hundredth of a second for third place. But yesterday, time had been kind to Williams and cruel to Devers, who is also still alive in the 100 hurdles. Devers was one of the great stories of the ’92 Olympics. Her heart-wrenching story of having overcome Graves’ disease – which almost led to the amputation of her legs – to win Olympic gold made her one of America’s darlings. But now it is time for new flames, and Williams is ready to grab the torch. Her mother, Donna, knew she had a speedster on her hands when Lauryn would race the family dog, Ben, a longhaired German shepherd, and win. “He was my best training partner,” said Williams. For Williams, this meet will be just as hard emotionally as physically. She has never run four races over two days to win a title, which she would have to do here. It could be a daunting task for a young runner who has been thinking about the Olympics since she entered her junior year at Miami. She took the college track world by storm, winning the NCAA championships and turning pro. Suddenly, the Olympics went from dream to reality. “I remember watching the last Olympics,” said Williams. “I was like, ‘Oh, can you believe that Marion Jones?’ I never dreamed I’d be running in the next Olympics.”