At the Brooks PR Invitational Meet held on Saturday June 21, 2015 in Seattle, Washington, 16 year-old Candace Hill made history in the 100m. Candace, a sophomore at Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Georgia won the 100m in a blistering time of 10.98 (+2.0 mps). Candace becomes the first high school girl to go sub-11 seconds in the 100m. She is now the new world junior and American junior 100m record-holder.
Candace, the two-time Georgia State Girl Athlete of the Year has been improving with each race that she competes in. She now has her eyes set on the making the USA team to the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championship set for Cali, Columbia on July 15-19, 2015. Barring injury, she should be the overwhelming favorite to claim her first global sprint title in Cali.
At the Adidas Grand Prix (NYC Diamond League) held in New York on June 13, Candace captured the Girls Dream 100 in 11.21 seconds (-1.5mps), beating a very competitive field of mostly juniors and seniors. Her time of 11.21 seconds into a headwind indicated that she could go faster. A week later in Seattle she went sub-11 seconds. Her time of 10.98 seconds shows that she is in top form and that she can possibly go faster.
At the Adidas Grand Prix in New York, Trackledger.com (TL) caught up with the calm and confident Candace, who showed poised and maturity beyond her years.
TL: How do you feel about your performance today at the Adidas Dream 100m?
Candace Hill: I feel like I had a great performance, I feel I had a great start, I felt good in the middle of my race and just accelerating towards the finish was just all amazing. I felt I ran a complete race.
TL: How do you feel about beating a very competitive field?
Candace Hill: It gives me confidence going into other meets, knowing that I ran against the top competitors, and that I came out the best, it just feels great.
TL: So you are in high school, are you a junior or a senior?
Candace Hill: I just finished my sophomore year and I’m going into my junior year
TL: So you are just a sophomore?
Candace Hill: Yes
TL: And you are doing so well?
Candace Hill: Yes
TL: What school do you attend?
Candace Hill: I attend Rockdale County High School in Georgia (Conyers, Ga)
TL: Do you like track and field and do you see yourself doing this on a long-term basis?
Candace Hill: Yes, if I just keep on going, practicing and doing [what I need to do], I can make it far in the sport.
TL: Do you play any other sports?
Candace Hill: No, I just do track and field
TL: Who coaches you in Georgia?
Candace Hill: Coach Venson Elder from Rockdale County High School, he’s my high school coach and also before him [there] was Dannette Young-Stone, she was an Olympian who coached me before I went to high school.
TL: I know you are just a sophomore, but are there any colleges that you are interested in?
Candace Hill: I have no idea but maybe USC, you never know there are other colleges… I don’t know…
TL: What’s your favorite event?
Candace Hill: I got back and forth between the 100 and the 200. For the 200, I have more real estate…to kick into gear for a win. The 100m is kind of short, I like short races
TL: Which Olympic athlete do you admire the most?
Candace Hill: Allyson Felix. She’s definitely my role model and I just want to be like her when I grow up.
TL: Thank you very much. Good luck
Candace Hill: Thank you
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