Candace Hill, a 16-year-old and the first U.S. high school girl to break 11 seconds in the 100m, signed with Asics, according to The New York Times.
Hill, who reportedly in October became the youngest U.S. track and field athlete to turn professional, hopes next year to become the youngest U.S. track and field athlete to compete in the Olympics since 1976, according to sports-reference.com.
Hill clocked 10.98 seconds in the 100m on June 20, with the maximum allowable tailwind. That ranked her No. 8 in the U.S. this year.
The top three finishers in the 100m final at the Olympic trials on July 3 in Eugene, Ore., will make the U.S. team for Rio, plus extra athletes for the 4x100m relay pool (usually finishers four through six).
Hill faces tough competition in World 100m bronze medalist Tori Bowie (who ran 10.81 this year) and English Gardner (who ran 10.79).
If going by the last two years’ times, the third spot on the Olympic team in the women’s 100m appears more unpredictable. No U.S. woman other than Bowie and Gardner has broken 10.90 in 2014 or 2015.
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