Louie Hinchliffe got here into this season with a 100m better of 10.11 from final yr, when he ranked No.11 within the UK. But on Friday (Might 24) in Arkansas the 21-year-old from Sheffield scorched to an eye catching 9.84 (+2.5).
Racing for the College of Houston – the place the coach is nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis – Hinchliffe’s time was barely wind-assisted. Nonetheless, the one British athlete to have run quicker is Zharnel Hughes together with his nationwide report of 9.83 (1.3) from New York final yr.
Hinchliffe’s sensible run can also be the quickest 100m on the earth in all situations throughout 2024 to this point. Earlier he had run a authorized 10.00 (+0.8) in his warmth, too.
Solely 5 years in the past Hinchliffe was citing the rear in final place within the English Colleges 100m last. However now he has put himself within the body for Olympic choice.
A comparatively unknown sprinter previous to this summer season, regardless of successful the England Athletics 100m title in 2022, he’ll probably the most talked about athletes within the run-up to the UK Championships in Manchester in late June. A member of Sheffield and Dearne AC within the UK, the place he was coached by Rudolph Paul Hohn, he was a proficient golfer earlier than specializing in athletics.
At simply 5ft 9in tall he acquired into his stride shortly in Arkansas on Friday earlier than producing a last surge over the closing phases that his mentor, Lewis, would have been happy with.
Along with his 100m particular person efficiency at this NCAA West preliminary spherical assembly, Hinchliffe, who beforehand studied at Lancaster College and Washington State, teamed up with Houston Cougars team-mates Ireon Brown, Cayden Broadnax and Shaun Maswanganyi to clock 38.80 as they certified for the NCAA Championships in Eugene on June 5-8 within the dash relay.
The outcomes are an incredible success for Houston the place Lewis is head sprints coach. Now aged 62, he received 9 Olympic titles and eight world gold medals. These embrace Olympic 100m, 200m, lengthy soar and 4x100m titles, which he received 40 years in the past this summer season on the Los Angeles Video games in 1984.
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