Shoreline Stunner: Hill's 100m US National High School Record

Sprint prodigy Candace Hill set the US National High School 100m record with her historic 10.98 at Shoreline Stadium in Shoreline, WA, today.

The 16-year-old became the youngest woman in the world ever to break 11.00 for 100m.

“I was hoping to run 11.1,” said the sensational sophomore from Stockbridge, Georgia, “after running 11.21 into a headwind at adidas (New York, 6/13/15).” 

Today’s wind was the maximum allowable 2.0 meters per second.

Hill had a national record on her mind as she shattered the previous record of 11.10 set by Kaylin Whitney at the USA Junior Championships in Eugene, OR, on July 5, 2014.

“I’ve been working on my start and my drive,” said Hill. “I was pleased with my start, but it always could be better.”

While she was hoping for a personal best at the aptly named Brooks PR Invitational, “… there was nothing in my training that said I’d run a 10.9 today.”

When asked if this race might alter her summer schedule, she said, “World Youth is next.”

When asked if she instead might run at USATF Senior Outdoor Nationals, she remained firm.

“World Youth is next,” she reiterated.

The understandably pleased Hill smiled and laughed throughout her suddenly many interviews, but the import of her achievement settled even more deeply when she was informed that her time today would have placed her 3^rd* in this year’s outdoor NCAA final.

“Really?” she asked, with an expression that was equal parts astonishment and surprise.

Hill’s time is also a World Youth (11.10, Whitney, above) and American Junior (11.03, English Gardner, 14 May 2011) record.

*or 2^nd depending on how the wind is factored
- birthdate: 11 February 1999