Vance Nilsson Nets 300mH National Record, Dips Under 35

* Gilbert's Vance Nilsson became the first boys athlete under 35 seconds in history on Saturday at the AIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Photo Credit: Arizona MileSplit

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Vance Nilsson set his sights on the 300 meter hurdle national record on Saturday at the AIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Mesa, Arizona. 

He secured it. 

But the Gilbert High School superstar didn't just do that. 

By race's end, he became the first high school boy in history to dip under 35 seconds for the discipline and the distance, posting a new national record of 34.83 seconds on the Mesa Community College track, shattering a 15-year-old record that had stood at 35.02 since 2009. 

"Feels great," Nilsson said. "Not even 34.9, which was my goal. I went 34.8 low. It was everything I wanted and more." 

Riverside's (CA) Reggie Wyatt was the last high school athlete to get closest to the sub-35 threshold.

Nilsson himself wasn't too far off last week, clocking a time of 35.05 seconds at his AIA Division I meet. His win on Saturday was his second straight at the distance and his third state title overall. He ran 37.82 seconds a year ago -- which represents a nearly 3-second improvement year-over-year. 

"As you go through the process, as you work hard, as you improve and start realizing your potential, it becomes more and more possible. You start realizing, 'Maybe I can get there.'" 

Over the course of the 2024 season, Nilsson has now clocked four times under 36 seconds and owns the first, third and 12th-best times in history at the discipline. 

On Saturday, Nilsson got the night going with a win in the 110mH, earning his first state title with a wind-legal time of 13.70 seconds.

AIA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS 300MH RESULTS

Related Links: 

AIA Outdoor Track And Field Championships Live Results