Why the ‘Fastest Girl in the World’ Rocks Out to DNCE and Sade Before Races
ESPNW—In June 2015, at age 16, Candace Hill ran 100 meters in less than 11 seconds — becoming the first girl to ever clock a time that fast while still in high school. And she turned even more heads by then becoming the youngest track athlete in the country to turn pro. (She signed a 10-year deal with Asics in December.)
Now the high school senior who’s new to the big leagues will head to her biggest competition yet: The track and field Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, starting on July 1. To get her mentally ready, she’s been perfecting her prerace ritual.
“I’ll listen to music right before meets. I’ll start off with upbeat songs and then switch to slower ones to help get me relaxed before competing,” she said last week in New York City.
Following this formula, right now Hill is starting with DNCE’s “Cake By the Ocean” and moving on to “Soldier of Love” by Sade before game time.
