SOURCE: https://www.sportsmax.tv/- Antigua and Barbuda sprinter Joella Lloyd is setting her sights high as she begins her campaign at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on Thursday.
The 22-year-old, representing the University of Tennessee, aims to break the sub-11 second barrier in the 100m, a goal she is confident in achieving after recently establishing a new lifetime best.
Lloyd qualified for the nationals with a lifetime-best 11.06 seconds, securing a third-place finish in her heat at the NCAA Division I East First Round on May 25 at the University of Kentucky Outdoor Facility in Lexington.
This impressive time not only marked a personal milestone but also set a new national record for Antigua and Barbuda, officially earning her a spot at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
When asked about her ambitions for the NCAA Nationals, Lloyd did not hesitate. “Oh yes, sub-11 is the goal for nationals!” she affirmed, highlighting her determination to continue improving her times on the track.
Lloyd’s aspirations extend beyond the collegiate championships.
Having recently graduated with a Master’s in Sports Psychology and Motor Behaviour, she is also focused on representing Antigua and Barbuda in both the 100m and 200m at the Olympic Games in Paris.
This dual qualification would mark a significant achievement for the young sprinter, who competed in the 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but did not advance past the preliminary round, finishing with a time of 11.54 seconds.
“I’m trying to do both 100 and 200m, but I haven’t run the 200m as much this season,” Lloyd explained in an interview with Sportsmax.TV. “Hopefully, with some meets this summer, I’ll be able to qualify for the 200m as well and run it in Paris.”
Lloyd’s lifetime best in the 200m stands at 22.66 seconds, a time she set in Oregon in June 2022. This season, her best effort in the 200m has been 23.36 seconds, recorded in Baton Rouge in March.
Despite not competing frequently in the 200m this year, Lloyd is optimistic about her chances of qualifying and competing in both sprint events at the Olympics.
As she steps onto the track at Hayward Field, Joella Lloyd carries the hopes of a nation eager to see her break new ground. Her journey through the NCAA Championships is not just about individual glory but also about preparing for the ultimate stage in Paris.
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