Hunter Woodhall’s Track & Field Career Had a Major Twist Before Hitting Stardom.
After his wife’s golden triumph in Paris, it’s now Hunter Woodhall’s turn to step into the spotlight! But can he add to the family’s list of accolades and recreate a winning moment of his own?
Given his impressive track record with the Arkansas Razorbacks, there’s every reason to believe he can—and then some. As he gears up for his third appearance at the Paralympic Games, Woodhall is more decorated and determined than ever before.
Hunter is set to compete in three events at Paris: the 100m T64, 400m T62, and the 4x100m T64 relay. With his sights set on a golden trifecta, the stage is set for him to potentially bring home three gold medals.
A two-time Paralympian, Woodhall already has three bronze medals on his trophy shelf: one from the 400m T62 in Tokyo and two from the 200m T44 and 400m T44 in Rio. But this time, he’s entering the 100m event with a new level of confidence, buoyed by a recent milestone achievement.
Hunter Woodhall boasts a brand new 100m American record
At the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials held at the Ansin Sports Complex, Woodhall not only showcased his prowess but also broke new ground.
He set a new American record in the 100m T62 category with a blazing time of 10.78 seconds, shaving off precious hundredths from his previous record of 11.00 seconds, set earlier this season at the World Championships. Adding to his 400m American record time of 46.09, Woodhall is heading to Paris not just to compete, but to dominate.
If one traces his sprint records, the 400m remains his signature event. In 2021, he made a major career decision, when he decided to switch to a professional career, despite becoming the first double amputee to get an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship. He announced it via his Instagram, saying, “It’s been 21 years overcoming obstacles and fighting battles just to get to this point. However, I AM TURNING PRO!”
But, his evolution in the 100m category seems to be one that he struggles with. However, there seems to be a visible improvement in his timing now. Thus, as he lines on the Stade de France tracks, Hunter Woodhall looks in great shape to win the 100m event.
Woodhall’s 100m evolution over the years
Skimming through his athletic records, one sees that Hunter Woodhall’s 100m stints have been quite infrequent. Right from high school to his progression into a Junior Razorback, Woodhall’s core events frequently featured the 400m, 4x400m relay, and 200m sprint events.
But, from having an intermittent 100m track presence, Woodhall has come a long way today. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the athlete finished 3rd in the 100m T64 heat clocking an 11.17s timing, which further dipped to 11.28 in the finals, where Woodhall ended 8th.
The same year, he took part in the 100m dash at the LSU Invitational. But the results continued to disappoint. Coming in 7th in the finals, Woodhall’s 11.08s time placed him on the losing side. However, by July 2022, there seemed to be visible improvement.
At the MVA HP event in California, the athlete recorded both sub-11 timings, 10.85 and 10.93 respectively. Moreover, he even partook in the 100m events at the 2023 and 2024 World Paralympic Championships. In 2024 specifically, he bagged a silver in 11.00 seconds, setting an American record that he had recently eclipsed.
But this time around, it looks like Hunter Woodhall is putting up a special show. Ahead of the Paris Paralympics, he had voiced a message for the people, “Come and expect to see what the human body is capable of. ” He even invited people to witness the show of emotions and career-defining moments that the Paralympic Games mostly encapsulate.
Do you think he can stun the world with his first 100m medal? Let us know below.
Also, if you’re a sports buff, you sure do not want to miss our latest episode of the EssentiallySports Think Tank Exclusive. Catch Madisen Skinner’s coach opening up about his stellar abilities.
