Indoor Track Update 7

Javianne Oliver Grabs Win in Poland

Veteran sprinter Javianne Oliver was a winner at the World Athletics Indoor Tour in Poland, Feb. 17. She ran a top time of 7.12 in the preliminary round and 7.08 in the finals. Oliver was the only American running in the competition and was the eldest competitor out of the 12 sprinters in the competition. At 26-years-old, Oliver has had a great start in 2021, with three previous wins at meets in France. Oliver's time in the finals is currently tied for the fastest in the world. She is tied with Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smth who also ran 7.08 on Jan. 29.

Joella Lloyd is Fastest in SEC

Tennessee sprinter Joella Lloyd raced off to a time of 7.20 at the Tiger Paw Invite. The sophomore now has the fastest time in the SEC and fifth best in the NCAA. Lloyd is also tied for 25th best in the world. As a freshman she only had one win in the 60 meters, but this season she has collected two in the month of February. She also won the 60 meters at the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite. Lloyd has also been a part of two wins in the 1,600-meter relay at the Doc Hale meet as well as the Hokie Invitational.

Olesya Soldatova Fairs Well in Russian Championships

This 18-year-old Russian sprinter was the only sprinter under 20, to qualify for the finals in the 60-meter dash at the Russian Indoor Championships last weekend. Olesya Soldatova finished fourth at 7.42. She is more known for her exploits in the 400-meter dash. She placed third in the 400 at the European Under 18 Championships back in 2018, at 53.09. Last year she placed third at the Russian Indoor Championships with a 60 meters time of 7.45. She also ran the 60 meters at the Russian Under 23 Indoor Championship meet where she finished second at 7.47, in 2020.

Blessing Okagbare Clocks World's Third Fastest Time

On Feb. 7, Blessing Okagbare ran 7.10 in the finals of the 60 meters at the American Track League 3, held in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Nigerian sprinter ran a top time of 7.17 in the prelim and stepped it up in the final to record the third fastest time in the world. The 32-year-old sprinter is the only competitor born in the 1980s with a world top 40 time in the 60-meter dash. She is a three-time Olympian for Nigeria. Okagbare won a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics' long jump competition.

Makayla Jackson Moves to Two in NCAA Division II

Minnesota State sophomore Makayla Jackson moved into the second spot on the NCAA Division II level with a time of 7.48 in the 60-meter dash, Feb. 12, at the Minnesota State University Triangular. Jackson won the Northern Sun Indoor Track & Field Championship in the 60 meters in 2020. She also took first in the long jump. She had her personal best marks at that event running 7.41 in the 60 and jumping 6.01 meters in the long jump. Ironically, Jackson trails senior Nicole Sreenan of Grand Valley State whose top time of 2021 is 7.41.

Istenic, Mihalache Place One and Two at Balkan U20

Above: Zala Istenic

Eighteen-year-old Slovenian sprinter Zala Istenic ran a time of 7.44 winning the 60-meter dash at the Balkan Under 20 Indoor Championships, Feb. 13 in Bulgaria. Last year she won gold at the Slovenian National Championship in the 400-meter relay. Istenic's win at the Balkan Under 20 Indoor Championships was ahead of 17-year-old runner-up Maria Mihalache, who finished at 7.49. Mihalache won gold as a member the 400-meter relay team at the Romanian National Championships in 2019. This season she was second at the Romanian National Championships in the 60 meters with a time of 7.52.

Below: Maria Mihalache