From the starting blocks to the finish line, freshman Surah Hinton is leaving behind a trail of dust for her opponents. With explosive speed and a natural love for sprinting, she is quickly becoming the name to look out for on the track.
“I originally started track just for fun back in sixth grade, and ever since then, I realized that I’m pretty good at it, so when I got to high school, I just decided to continue it on,” she said. Hinton participated in winter track during the 2024-2025 season, where her talent was put on display. She placed at some of the most difficult meets, such as sectionals and states, and even made it to New Balance Nationals, all just as a freshman.
Sprinting coach Griffin Hall explained how he thinks of his top girl sprinter: “Surah is a dedicated runner, and it is obvious that she puts in the work on and off the track. It’s hard to find kids who are as dedicated and determined as her, and with her talent, I’m sure that with the right coaching, she’ll go far.”
Her accomplishments during her first high school career have not gone unnoticed. Hinton is already making a name for herself, not only within her school but across the state. Her time in the 100m and the 200m races has steadily improved, and she is becoming known for her lightning-fast starts and her strong finishes.
“I think what sets Surah apart is her mental toughness,” said head coach Laura Chegwidden. “You can see it in the way she runs. She doesn’t back down, no matter who’s in the race against her. She races with confidence, and that’s rare in a freshman.”
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(nj.milesplit.com)
Despite her obvious natural talent, Surah’s success didn’t come without working hard. Her schedule is filled with practice after practice, along with balancing good grades. “Some days, it really hits me how busy I really am, like I have school practice, then club track practice, then homework, then studying for tests. It gets so stressful, but I try my best to manage it, and at the end of the day, I really love what I do,” Hinton explained. Her drive and determination are rooted in her love of the sport.
The drive she has pushed her to one of her proudest moments: qualifying for Nike Nationals. Competing against some of the fastest young athletes in the country, she clocked a personal best at 7.61 for the 55 meters. She explained the experience as a moment to never forget, along with a learning experience.
“I was nervous at first,” she admitted. “But once the gun went off, I just ran I mean, what else could I have done? The more I looked around, I realized everyone was just like me, just giving it their all, and that was exactly what I did.”
Her teammates have also taken notice. Sophomore Manali Patel described Surah as someone who uplifts anyone and is always there to lend some advice.
“She’s always at practice. Even when she’s hurt, she’s still there with a smile, and when she could run, she always seemed to give the workouts her all. While some of us usually cheat out of the sprinting workout, she always does it,” said Patel.
Surah’s goal for the future is to keep following what she loves. Whether it keeps her on track or not, she wants to follow her heart.
“I mean, I’m just a freshman who knows what I’ll be doing next year. Never hurts to try out some new things, build a collection of talents.”
