WOMEN
100 METERS
Heats, Semifinals and Final, Thursday.
Gold: Allyson Felix (2001), Jessica Onyepunuka (2001), Bianca Knight (2005),
Jennifer Madu (2011), Ky Westbrook (2013).
Silver: Krystin Lacy (2003), Ebony Collins (2005), Myasia Jacobs (2011),
Ariana Washington (2013).
Bronze: Ashton Purvis (2009).
Two years ago Candace Hill of Rockdale County, Conyers, Ga.) was a middle school sprinter with a best of 11.81. Last year she completed an undefeated season, improving to 11.44 (11.34 wind-aid) and winning the New Balance outdoor nationals. This year she continues to be undefeated and has set the world Youth and national high school record of 10.98 breaking the mark of 11.10 set by Kaylin Whitney of (East Ridge, Clermont, Fl.) in 2014. Hill won the U.S. trials in 11.43 followed by Lynna Irby of Pike (Indianapolis, In.) at 11.73 and Jayla Kirkland of Woodlawn (Birmingham, Al.) 11.76. Irby has chosen to run the 400 making Kirkland the second U.S. qualifier. Kirkland's best legal mark is just 11.69 but she won the New Balance outdoor nationals in an 11.33 with an aiding wind of 3.0 meters per seconds, which is over the allowable 2.0 mps for record purposes. The second leading entrant is a name familiar to high school track fans - Khalifa St. Fort of Trinidad-Tobacco and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fl.). Fort's best is 11.43 in winning the Golden South Invitational in Orlando (Fl.). Others to watch are Hannah Brier of Great Britain at 11.44, Tristan Evelyn of Barbados at 11.54 and Jamaican duo of Kimone Shaw at 11.52 and Shaneil English at 11.59. Shaw's mark came in mid-June.