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By Marcia Ra-Akbar
BOSTON, MA. - The Flying Angels Track Club made a big splash at the New Balance National Indoor Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 8. Going up against some of the best young athletes in the U.S., the track team showed up, setting personal records, winning their heats, and earning national rankings.
Triple jumper Divine Oriakhi continued her impressive journey by finishing 4th with a personal best jump of 12.51m. Just a week before, she snagged 2nd place in the triple jump (12.34m) and 4th in the long jump at the AAU Indoor Nationals, which shows she’s consistently performing at a high level. Reflecting on her success, Oriakhi emphasized how her calm mindset and the support she received from others played a key role. "I felt really composed, and I was just hoping to do my best—and I did! I know there’s more to come in the future, and I'm really grateful for all the help I’ve gotten to achieve this goal," she said. Her jumps coach, Paul, couldn’t be more proud, noting, "Divine keeps improving meet after meet!" Now ranked 9th in the U.S. for indoor triple jump, Oriakhi is ready to tackle even bigger challenges as she prepares for the outdoor season.
The Flying Angels sprinters also made their mark in the fiercely competitive 60m event. Jelani Reid kicked things off by winning his heat with a time of 6.85, then improved to 6.80 in the semifinals, finishing 9th overall and earning a 29th-place national ranking. Wyatt also won his heat in 6.84 but just missed moving on to the next round, while Jahleel took home a heat win with a 6.92 but didn’t advance either. Elijah ran a solid 7.07, placing 4th in his heat, but fell short of making it to the semifinals. Despite these tough results, Reid stayed optimistic about his performance and future goals. "I thought I did well, even with a false start that threw me off a bit. But I managed to recover and run a decent race. Looking ahead, my goals are to keep training hard and crush my personal bests in the outdoor season," he said.
Shiloh Cross also added to the club’s achievements by showing off her skills in the triple jump; she finished 8th overall with a mark of 12.16m, securing a 23rd-place ranking in the U.S. What an accomplishment as she gears up for upcoming outdoor competitions!
Looking back on the team’s performances, head coach Earl Letford made it clear how proud he is of the Flying Angels program. "The performances we saw this weekend really reflect the hard work and dedication of our athletes. Competing at this level and earning national rankings from the United States proves that the Flying Angels are developing top-tier talent. We’re thrilled with what they’ve achieved and can’t wait to see what’s in store for the outdoor season," he said.
As the team shifts into the outdoor season, their momentum is undeniable, and the future looks brighter than ever.
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