DIVISION IV: COAST CLEAR FOR LOUISVILLE'S OLEAR SPRINTER OVERCOMES HAMSTRING INJURY TO EARN TOP SEEDS IN 100, 200.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

Elizabeth Olear isn't ready to give up on this track season just yet.

The Louisville of Woodland Hills sophomore sprinter, who has had multiple hamstring setbacks this season, almost had to pull out last week after another hamstring tweak at the Mission League finals.

But a week of rehab has her hamstring feeling fine and her postseason prospects looking strong for the first time since early March.

Olear ran season bests to take top seeds in the 100 and 200 meters Saturday at the Southern Section Div. IV prelims at Moorpark High.

The top nine in each event advanced to next Saturday's divisional finals at Cerritos College.

``I went to the doctor and he said to rest my hamstring and put it in ice,'' Olear said.

``It hasn't been hurting since. Hopefully it stays that way for the rest of the year.''

Last week, it didn't look like Olear, who finished third in the state in the 200 and fourth in the 100 as a freshman, had enough time in the season to get back to her usual self even if her hamstring held up.

But after running times of 12.02 (.52 better than her last race) in the 100 and 24.23 (1.03 better) in the 200 Saturday, she is making her move just in time for the season's final weeks.

Olear is slightly off last year's pace, when she had times of 11.82 and 23.91 at the division prelims. However, that can be attributed to the competition last season from Allyson Felix, who was in Div. IV and ran in the same heat as Olear in the 100.

``I feel like I'm right where I need to be,'' Olear said.

``I'm relieved about where I am after playing catch-up all season. I ran good times, but I don't want to stay there. I want to keep improving.''

With Felix gone, Olear is the favorite for the division title but is is getting competition from the improving Lindsay Fletcher from Flintridge Prep of La Canada.

Fletcher has cut more than half a second in the 100 this year and more than a second in the 200. She won her heats with a 12.20 in the 100 and a 24.56 in the 200, seeding her second in each event behind Olear in the divisional finals.

Fletcher's season best of 11.88 in the 100 is better than Olear's time.

Olear's hamstring troubles could give Fletcher a chance to make a name for herself.

``I've always gotten a little attention but not at the level I want it,'' Fletcher said. ``This is a good year for me to get known and grab some attention. I've been working hard for it.''

Randle Harris from Crespi of Encino came out with a new intensity after losing to both Cary Harris and Rodney Glass from Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks last week in the Mission League finals.

Harris won his heat in the 100 and finished second overall at 10.80, his best electronic time and a .22 improvement over last week.

``I started off the season kind of slow, and that's what I needed to pick me up,'' Harris said of his frustrating league finals.

``That gave me incentive to work harder. Hopefully we can all make it to Masters and duke it out.''

Harris will have to advance out of the division finals next week to make it to Masters.

Matthew Kredell, [phone]

matthew.kredell(at)dailynews.com