Gilbert’s Nilsson clears another historic hurdle
May 5, 2024 by Ben Stapley, AZPreps365
Vance Nilsson knew he was close to making history well before the finish line.
But this wasn't another Arizona state record. This was the national high school record in the 300 meter hurdles that he was chasing down. Nilsson already owns the state record in the 300 hurdles with a 35.50 time he recorded last week. He's been ranked No. 1 in the nation in the event all season. What he hadn't done is run the fastest time in national history in the 300 meter hurdles.
Saturday night at the Division-I Track & Field Championships at Red Mountain High School, Nilsson came within three-hundredth's of a second of breaking that record.
Once the race was finished and the times were posted, Nilsson had clocked a time of 35.05.
The national record is 35.02.
It was set in 2009 by Reggie Wyatt from Clovis High School in Northern California. Nilsson has never met Wyatt, but he knew he was close to his record right out of the gate.
Vance Nilsson wins the AIA D1 300h with a time of 35.05. This is just shy of the all-time national record of 35.02. He will run again in the AIA Open Championship next weekend. 🐯🏃♂️💨#TigerStrong pic.twitter.com/lDegSuAzip
— Gilbert High School Athletics (@Gilbert_Tigers) May 5, 2024
"I knew right away I was gonna have a chance," Nilsson explained. "When I ran the 35.50 last week, I had stumbled a bit on the first two hurdles, but I still set another (personal record). "Tonight I got off to a clean start and so I knew I'd have a faster time."
Saturday was still memorable for Nilsson. Earlier in the day he broke the state 110 meter hurdle record with a time of 13.39. Former Brophy Track and football start Devon Allen held the record at 13.48 for the last decade.
Gilbert’s Vance Nilsson shatters another AZ state record, this time in the 110 meter hurdles in the D-1 State Championship meet at Red Mountain, finishing in 13.39 seconds pic.twitter.com/upvpaLpUKi
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) May 5, 2024
Nilsson, a senior who is still undecided on college, will have another shot at the 300 meter hurdle record next week at the AZPreps365 Open Division State meet.
Both Chandler High's girls and boys teams won the D-I team title.
Both of Salpointe's teams won the Division-3 title, as did both of Snowflake's teams for D-4.
For all team and individual results, go to Athletic.live