US sprinter Candace Hill in action in the 100m (© Kirby Lee)
US sprint sensation Candace Hill has already proven she is fast – very fast, in fact – and this week in Cali, the 16-year-old from Conyers, Georgia will get the chance to show the world just how good she is in a championship setting.
Hill smashed the world youth best and US high school and junior 100m records last month in Seattle, scorching down the track to win in 10.98. Just a week before, she destroyed the opposition to win the high school girls’ 100m at the New York IAAF Diamond League meeting, running 11.21 into a stiff headwind.
If she reproduces anything like that form in Cali, the gold medal almost looks a formality.
The US has gone 1-2 in the girls’ 100m at the past two IAAF World Youth Championships and with Hill joined in Cali by teammate Jayla Kirkland – who has run a wind-aided 11.33 this year – there is a decent chance of them continuing that streak.
The athlete most likely to upset the USA duo is Trinidad and Tobago’s Khalifa St Fort, who has a best of 11.43 but was well beaten by Hill in New York last month.
Also in the medal hunt are Great Britain’s Hannah Brier, who has run 11.44 this year, and Jamaica’s Kimone Shaw, who has a best of 11.52.
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF
