Zacchaeus Brocks Sets New High School Hurdles Record at Hayward

Just nine days after a world record was broken at Hayward Field, a remarkable performance by Zacchaeus Brocks has drawn attention to the next wave of American hurdlers. The senior from Detroit Catholic Central in Michigan shattered the high school 110-meter hurdles record, clocking an impressive 12.975 seconds at the USATF U20 outdoor track and field championships on May 19. This achievement makes him the first American high school athlete to break the 13-second barrier, eclipsing the previous record of 13.08 seconds set by Wayne Davis in 2009.

Brocks expressed his gratitude following the race, saying, "I'm just blessed, honestly. Last year, I was injured and wasn't even able to come out here and compete. Being able to do this is a testament to God, man. Without Him, I don't know where I would be." Remarkably, despite his record-setting time, Brocks did not have the fastest time of the day. Le'Ezra Brown, a freshman at the University of Georgia, recorded a time of 12.95 seconds in the preliminaries, although it does not count for high school records. Brown finished just behind Brocks in the final with a time of 12.977 seconds, securing a spot on the U.S. team for the U20 World Championships.

Brown commented on his performance, stating, "I just wanted to get top two, I didn't really care about winning. I ran 12.95 in the prelim after cramping up coming off that last hurdle." The competition at Hayward Field has been particularly intense, especially following Auburn junior Ja'Kobe Tharp's recent world record of 12.75 seconds at the NCAA championships. Brocks noted, "It was very motivating for me. I saw that and went, 'Hey, maybe I could do that someday.' It just gave me even more confidence and motivation."

The excitement didn’t stop with Brocks and Brown. Tate Taylor, who had already claimed the U.S. high school record in the 100-meter dash, also set a new American prep record in the 200 meters with a time of 19.94 seconds. "I did not think I was going to break the national record again," Taylor admitted. Other notable performances included Keenen Davis, who set a national high school record in the 400 hurdles with a time of 49.20 seconds, and Jayden Deleon, who broke the American prep record in the 400 meters with a time of 44.52 seconds.

Ellery Lincoln, a junior from Lincoln High School and future University of Oregon runner, secured a place on the U.S. team for the U20 Worlds by finishing second in the 1,500 meters with a personal best of 4:07.99. "Being a kid from Oregon, going to the University of Oregon is super special," Lincoln said, expressing her excitement about her upcoming collegiate career. With multiple records already under her belt, she is aiming to break the U.S. high school mile record of 4:23.5 before her senior year concludes.

The U20 championships showcased a plethora of talent, highlighting the bright future of U.S. track and field. With athletes like Brocks, Brown, and Lincoln leading the charge, the sport is poised for an exciting era ahead.