HINESVILLE -- To Gainesville Leia Williams go.

The Liberty County shotput and discus star signed her letter of intent to the University of Florida on Friday afternoon.

A state championship winning career with one more season to spare led Williams to pick up interest from Division I programs.

Florida International and Miami also expressed interest to the thrower.

Williams chose Florida because of the welcoming nature paired with the food options and Gator’s apparel.

"I loved how the coaches and athletes welcomed me in," she said about her visit. "They had so much in common with me – food, shoes. I'm from the south, so I'm a foodie girl. We love to eat so from the jump, they chose spots that I love to eat at and would eat every week if I could. I'm a shoe girl. So, we had a lot of common with Jordan's and Nike."

Once she arrives to Gainesville, she wants to make a new personal record to make her mark as the newest Gator on campus.

"I'm hoping to hit 165 just to hit it," Williams said. "I really want to up my potential down there and even up here."

But before her time at Liberty County comes to an end, a state championship is on Williams' mind this spring.

"Two hopefully," she said about her upcoming senior track season. "Shotput and discus. I'm going to jump up and down if I can."

It took a village to get Williams to where is now.

And she wants them to know it.

"I just want to thank everybody," Williams said. "It's not anybody in specific. I want to thank my coaches, my parents, all my friends, and supporters. Y'all have helped me out a lot and I just want to say thank you."