Candace Hill wins USATF AOW with all-time performance at Brooks PR Invitational
 
INDIANAPOLIS -- After becoming the only high school girl to ever break the 11-second barrier in the 100 meters, 16-year-old Candace Hill earns USATF Athlete of the Week honors.
 
Hill (Conyers, Georgia), the Gatorade Georgia Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year with state titles in the 100 and 200m this season, clocked 10.98 at the Brooks PR Invitational on Saturday, June 20 in Seattle, Washington.
 
Despite her astounding performances at such an early stage of her career, the pressure comes differently than most her age.
 
“That’s what makes me nervous. I’m doing all these things and I have a target on my back so I try to stay relaxed, but I’m always nervous.” Hill said.
 
Most high school students are enjoying summer vacation relaxing as much as possible, but Hill seems to have other plans on her mind.
 
“I still have to do my summer reading and school work,” Hill said with a laugh. “I have World Youth trials next Tuesday and Wednesday and my coach and I are debating about trying out for the 2016 Rio Olympics.”
 
Other notable performances this week include:
 
●       Blanche Cummings (Yorba Linda, California), ran 10:55.25 at the USATF West Regional Masters Championships in Norwalk, California, over the weekend. At 86 years old, Cummings became the oldest to ever run a sub-11 mile.
 
●       Donovan Brazier (Grand Rapids, Michigan), ran 1:47.55 in the 800m in Seattle, Washington, at the Brooks PR Invitational this Saturday as well. It was the fourth fastest 800m in U.S. high school history. Brazier won by 3.19 seconds and set a new PR respectively.
 
●       Ella Donaghu (Portland, Oregon), came from behind to run 4:43.07 in the mile at the Brooks PR Invitational. Donaghu has multiple state champions in track and cross country throughout her high school career.
 
●        Kate Hall (Naples, Maine), set an American Junior record in the long jump with a 6.83m/22-5 inches performance at the New Balance Outdoor National Track and Field Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina. Hall, who will jump for Iowa State next year, eclipsed the previous junior record of 6.78m/22-3 held by Kathy McMillan since 1976. Hall finished third in the 100 meters with a time of 11.37 as well on Saturday.
 
Now in its 14th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
 
2015 Winners: January 15, Chris Derrick; January 21, Demi Payne; January 28, Casimir Loxsom; February 4, Anselm LeBourne; February 11, Jenny Simpson; February 18, Brycen Spratling; February 25, Maksim Korolev; March 4, Shannon Rowbury; March 11, Mary Norckauer; March 18, Daloria Boone; March 25, Irene Obera; April 2, Michael Stigler; April 8, Allen Woodard; April 15, Joe Kovacs; April 22, Vashti Cunningham; April 29, Jasmin Stowers; May 6, Sanya Richards-Ross; May 13, Bernard Lagat; May 20, Christian Taylor; May 27, David Oliver; June 3, Joe Kovacs; Grant Fisher, June 10; Ben True, June 17; Candace Hill, June 24.
 
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About USATF
USA Track & Field is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit http://www.usatf.org/.
 
We welcome your nominations!
To nominate an athlete for Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to Communications@usatf.org.

Ryan Stevens
Communications Intern
Ryan.Stevens@usatf.org