Candace Hill is a four-time state champion, five-time national champion and owns the Georgia State Records in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Yeah, she's fast, but she's still hitting her stride. The Rockdale Magnet School straight-A student is still only a sophomore! The young star shared some of her secrets with MileSplit - don't tell her coach, but she loves candy! - and competition watch out, she's in her best shape ever.
Candace Hill By The Numbers:
# of State Titles: 4
# of National Titles: 5
Personal Records:
60: 7.52
100:11.30
200: 23.05
300: 38.81
400: 55.05
Candace Hill (middle) poses with fellow Georgia stars Ryan Clark (L) and Taylor Deloach (R).
Congratulations on breaking your own Georgia state records in the 100m (11.34) and 200m (US #1 23.05)! You own the fastest wind-legal times in the nation this year in both the 100 and 200 meters. How does that feel and did you expect to be on top of the leaderboard at this point in the season?
It feels surreal being #1 in both the 100m and 200m. I am very proud of myself for the blazing times I've ran this season. In all actuality, I did not expect to be on top of the leaderboards in both events. In fact I feel surprised, because I feel that I am ahead of track towards reaching my goals for this season.
How do you feel about your fitness right now?
I feel pretty great about my fitness. I don't think that I am in tip-top shape, and that I have more areas to train in and that I haven't reached my peak yet.
Candace Hill set the Georgia state record in the 200 meters at 23.05 at the state meet.
Describe a typical training week. The more details, the better :)
MONDAY- Speed work and 10x30m accelerations
TUESDAY - Speed and Endurance (4x350's with full recovery inbetween)
WEDNESDAY - 100m strides in grass for 30minutes
THURSDAY - Relay practice and handoffs
FRIDAY - Block starts and relay practice or rest
SATURDAY - meet day
SUNDAY - Rest
Last year, you swept the 100 and 200 meters at New Balance Nationals as a freshman. Can you describe that experience?
It felt fantastic winning both the 100m and 200m at NewBalance. My freshman year was going well for me because I had recently won my first high school state titles and broke records in both the 100m and 200m so that gave me a lot of confidence and motivation coming into the meet. I felt like I was at the height of my season and I just wanted to keep the action going.
Did you enter the national meet expecting to win and how did you handle the pressure of competing on the sport's biggest stage?
I did not enter the meet expecting to win because even though I had an outstanding performance state meet in Georgia, I was going up against older, stronger, and more experienced competitors in the country. But, I believed in myself and I said that I was going to try my best regardless. I feel like I handled the pressure really well. I had competed in other national meets such as the 2013 USATF Junior Olympics, so I was used to a lot of people watching. I was more nervous about the competition and running on a high school level, so I took that nervousness and let it out on the track.
Were you ever intimidated by the older girls? What advice would you give to other young stars?
At first I was intimidated by the older girls because they looked more muscular than me, but later on I realized that in high school age doesn't matter, it's all about the skill, talent, and trust in yourself and how you utilize it when you compete.
What is the most memorable of your athletic career thus far? What are you most proud of?
The most memorable of my athletic career thus far would have to be winning state and breaking records at the Georgia Girls State Track and Field Championship. I felt like this performance put me on the national stage, and gave me confidence and motivation to win other bigger meets.
You just won the Georgia State Championship. What is next for you and how will you adjust your training?
What's next on the schedule is that I plan on competing in the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Oregon in the end of May, then after that, I plan on running in invitational meets across the country. I will adjust my training by turning up the intensity a little bit more that I can be prepared to run against the heated competition.
What is your in-season diet?
No fried foods, water, smoothies, nuts, fruits, salads, vegetables, chicken, turkey, fish, protein shakes
What is your team dynamic like at Rockdale County High School? What do you do to bond outside of practice? Do you have any team traditions?
Our team dynamic at Rockdale is like most other track teams. We have our ups and downs but in the long run we support, motivate and help each other to reach the goals. During track season we spend a lot of time together bonding and becoming closer. During our off season, we hang out with some of our other friends.
What is your athletic background and when/how did you get involved in track and field?
I would always win the races at field day in elementary school. In 7th grade I tried out for the track team, but I wasn't the fastest. One of our star runners that was anchor in the 4x100 got injured and my coach made me take her spot. Later on that summer, I joined Dynamic Speed Elite Track Club and I placed 3rd at my first national championship meet in both the 100m and 200m. Since then, I became faster and faster and my track breakout really began in 9th grade.
What might track and field fans be surprised to find out about you?
I am a straight A student with a 4.75 GPA and I also attend Rockdale Magnet School of Science and Technology.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
I was in 5th grade and it was raining. I was trying to catch the bus home and it left me, so I was literally chasing after the bus. The bus driver finally saw me in the rearview mirror and stopped to let me on. I was wearing a bright pink cast on my arm. When I got on the bus all soaking wet with my broken arm everyone was laughing at me.
Describe a perfect day in the life of Candace Hill.
No practice, no school, sleep in late, eat candy all day, go shopping, and travel somewhere.
Fun Stuff!
Pre-race pump-up song(s): Stronger by Kelly Clarkston
Guilty pleasure food: CANDY, CANDY, and more CANDY
Last movie you saw: The Boy Next Door
Favorite book: The Five People You Meet in Heaven
If you could have dinner with any three people, who would they be and why? I would have dinner with Jennifer Lopez because I like her movies and songs; Florence Griffith Joyner because she is the fastest woman ever and I want to know her secret, and Malala Yousafzai because while faced with adversity, she remains an activist and an inspiration to young girls around the world.
