Candace Hill just made her latest headline and she hasn't even raced yet.
The rising junior at Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga. is in Cali, Colombia for the IAAF World Youth Championships to contest the 100m and 200m dashes. But her latest accolade actually comes stateside, as Hill was named the Gatorade National Girls Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, July 15.
Hill is the only sophomore in the 30-year history of the award to win the National distinction, over other female nominees from the sports of volleyball, cross country, soccer, softball and basketball. She is also the only non-senior female to win the award.
“I’m speechless, it feels amazing," she said. "Out of lot of all the talented athletes, to be picked and be one of the 12 finalists was one thing, but to be named the winner was something I just didn’t see coming.
“To be able to see all the athletes named Gatorade Player of the Year it just gives me the motivation to move forward and be better. It’s amazing to be a part of a group like that.”
Hill garnered national media attention after the Brooks PR Invitational, when she became the first high school girl to break 11 seconds in the 100m with her National High School Record of 10.98. The time is a World Youth Best mark, the fastest-ever time recorded for an athlete aged 17 years or younger. This week, she will attempt to be just the second girl in history after Jodie Williams of Great Britain to sweep the 100m and 200m at the IAAF World Youth Championships.
That said, her goals have already extended to the pro circuit for 2016.
"Keep on doing my best," she said. "Focus on lowering my times, setting records and next year, I want to try to try and qualify for the U.S. Olympic team.”
Hill joins elite company as just the third female track and field athlete to win the overall award. Other award winners are Allyson Felix, a six-time Olympic medalist, and Chanelle Price, the 2014 World Indoor Champion for 800m.
The Gatorade National Boys Athlete of the Year is Kyler Murray, a quarterback from Allen High School, Texas, who threw for 4,713 yards and 54 touchdowns last fall. He will play for Texas A&M next year.
Follow along with MileSplit for live updates as Candace Hill competes at World Youth!
