Boys track and field Athlete of the Year: Abraham Hall has nation’s best 100 time but eyes improvement

South Grand Prairie’s Abraham Hall posted the fastest time in the nation in the 100-meter dash at the 5A state meet at 10.19 seconds, just .04 off the vaunted state record set by Greenville’s Henry Neal in 1990.

But as soon as Hall walked off the podium, he talked about how he thought the time could be a little faster.

The race was marred by two false starts that had put Hall on edge before the third restart. If the second restart would have held up, Hall was convinced that he would have posted a sub-10 second 100. It was his best start of his career.

“Had I done that one, it would have definitely been a nine,” Hall said. “With an OK start, I ran a 10.19. With that start, I would have done it.”

Why should anyone doubt him?

In winning two 5A state titles at the University Interscholastic League meet in Austin, Hall posted non-wind aided times in the 100 and 200 (20.58) that were the fastest in the country this year.

Hall is working to improve his starts, which he considers his weak point. His goal this summer is to break Jeff Demps’ World Junior 100 record of 10.01 seconds.

He will run in June’s USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field championships in Indiana, with hopes to make the team for the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona.

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