Local young woman is 7-time big ten champion

Wayne Memorial High School graduate Anavia Battle has the fastest 200-meter dash time for 2020.

By Carolyn Marnon – Wayne Memorial High School graduate Anavia Battle has the fastest 200-meter dash time for 2020 out of all professional and collegiate athletes. Anavia registered a 22.66 which also became a facility record at a recent track and field event at Clemson University Indoor Complex. A college junior at Ohio State, Anavia is a seven-time Big Ten Champion and was 2018 Freshman of the Year.
The world record is 21.34 held by Florence Griffith-Joyner at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Anavia’s was a Big Ten Champion her sophomore year at Ohio State when she won the indoor 200-meter, the outdoor 100-meter and 200-meter and the 4×100 relay. Her team won Big Ten Champions as a whole for both indoor and outdoor. Her junior year, she has won the 60-meter and 200-meter indoor and another team championship “making me a 7x Big Ten Champion,” she says.
“To prepare for race day I make sure I eat and get rest and surround myself with good energy.
I don’t really think when I run. I put my mind aside and get out there and run and have fun. My next goal to strive for in my career is to win NCAA and become a professional athlete.”