Hill College freshman runs second fastest time in school history at California meet

Hill College freshman Josh Gill ran the second fastest 5,000 meters in school history after also placing fourth in his heat at the Leopard Distance Carnival April 12 in La Verne, Calif.

Gill, who is from New Zealand, moved strongly through the pack over the final four laps, finishing with a personal best time of 14:48.40 (improving his personal best by 13 seconds) and just 14 seconds shy of the school record.

“It was actually the fifth personal best in Gill’s first five college races,” Hill College Head Track Coach Greg Lautenslager said. “He also ran 3:56.58 in the 1,500m at the UTA Invitational on March 8 and recorded 5,000m bests of 15:08.58 for third place at the TCU Alumni Meet on March 16 and 15:01.47 for fourth place at the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos on March 28.”

Sophomore Jose Alfonzo (Venezuela) won the 1,000m at the Texas Wesleyan Meet Feb. 17 in Fort Worth and then finished fifth in the UTA meet with a time of 3:56.30. He also took five seconds off his personal 800m best (1:55.18) after finishing third in his heat at the Bobcat Invitational March 28 in San Marcos and ran 3:59.37 in a driving rainstorm at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. on April 13.

“The Bobcat Invitational was a big night for Hill College,” Lautenslager said.

Lyndon Orr, the Wylie sophomore who has signed a full scholarship with Southern Arkansas University, finished eighth in the 10,000m and beat the NJCAA qualifying standard by more than 20 seconds with his time of 32:24.89. Sophomore Kalil Bell (Grapevine) took 25 seconds off his 5,000m best with a time of 15:47.33, and sophomore Jesus Flores (Whitesboro) cut 20 seconds off his best (16:40.67). Freshman Trenton Pentecost (Aubrey) was not far behind after recording a 16:52.86.

Lautenslager said the best marks posted by the Hill College middle distance runners came at UTA where freshman Faizone Ogendo (Kenya) ran 2:09.14 in the 800m, sophomore Adrian Moreno (Mesquite) 2:13.46, freshman Obed Cruz 2:13.73, sophomore Joenniel Sanchez (Mesquite) 2:21.71 and freshman Laila Vazquez (Keene) 2:37.10.

Sophomore Kimberly Mata (Alvarado) posted a season’s best 5:54.51 at the Wes Kittley Invitational 1,500m in Abilene, followed by freshman Analia Menendez (Arlington) with a finishing time of 6:02.71.

Lautenslager also said both Menendez and Orr were selected to the NTJCAC All-Academic Team.

Gill, Alfonzo, Orr, and Bell will be gearing up for the NJCAA Track and Field Championships, May 16-18, in Monroe, Louisiana.

For more information on the Hill College track program, please visit https://hillcollegeathletics.com.