Photos by Alan Versaw
Racing at altitude and a strong tailwind. It was a perfect storm at the 2015 Great Southwest Classic in Albuquerque for Rockdale County (GA) sophomore Candace Hill to roll out lifetime best times in both the 100 and 200 meter dash from the defending New Balance Nationals outdoor meter champion.
Race Video: Candace Hill's 11.15 100m at Great Southwest Classic
Video Interview: Candace Hill 100m Post-Race
Fresh off winning the high school 200 meter race at the Prefontaine Classic last week in 23.64 at Hayward Field, the US leader in the 100 stormed down the straightaway in the 100 meter dash at University of New Mexico's outdoor track & field facility to start her day. Hill posted a sizzling US #1 all-conditions time of 11.15 (+2.9 wind aided) tying Teahna Daniels of Florida, who ran the same time in a wind-aided performance also earlier in the season.
Race Video: Candace Hill's 22.76 200m at Great Southwest Classic
Video Interview: Candace Hill 200m Post-Race
Coming back later in the 200 meter dash, Hill who already holds the US #1 wind-legal time in the event at 23.05 from her Georgia State Meet performance, had the wind machines turned on again in Albuquerque. In the elite division 200 meter race at Great Southwest, Hill blew away the field with a new personal best time as she dipped under 23 seconds for the first time at 22.76. However, another wind-aided race for Hill at a +2.8 wind reading, so her 23.05 will remain the US #1 time.
One of the sport's top young high school stars, Hill is in the midst of a busy stretch of travel and high quality meets starting with Prefontaine Classic and Great Southwest in the books from the past two weekends. Next up for Hill will be adidas Dream 100 in New York City on June 13th, Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle on June 20th, and the World Youth Championships Trials in Chicago on June 30th. She certainly should contend for a medal and strong potential for gold in Cali, Columbia for the IAAF World Youth Championships in either the 100 or 200 or both in mid-July if she makes the U.S. team.
Albuquerque brought the wind, but Candace Hill brought the speed.
