Hill College runners continue to break school records as final track meet of season approaches

Hill College runners continue to break school records as they soar toward the end of another successful track season.

Freshman Aimee Clarke (Celina) set the 5,000m school record with an impressive 19:50.13 performance at the Bobcat Invitational March 27 in San Marcos.

Clarke also followed that meet with a school-best time of 5:10.14 in the 1,500m run at the Carl Kight Invitational April 11 in Nacogdoches – shaving 3 seconds off the record set by teammate Angela Coronado at the first meet of the season in Georgetown.

“Aimee has showed her tenacity this spring by overcoming some injuries and illnesses to propel herself to record performances,” Hill College Head Track Coach Greg Lautenslager said.

In the men’s division, sophomore Josh Gill (New Zealand) broke former teammate Lyndon Orr’s record in the 10,000m run in Georgetown by 7 seconds with a time of 32:17.81. Gill is also set to compete in the 5,000m run at the Leopard Invitational Friday in La Verne, California, where he hopes to qualify for the NJCAA Track and Field Championships.

Freshamn Elmahyah Chacha (North Garland) came within 1.7 seconds of qualifying for Nationals in Nacogdoches after finishing third in his 1,500m heat with a time of 4:00.49.

“Since his first meet on March 1, Chacha has improved 4 seconds every race,” Lautenslager said. “He has a very positive approach and is looking stronger and smoother every meet.”

The Nacogdoches and San Marcos meets proved successful for Hill College athletes, most coming home with personal bests.

Freshman Elaina McCulloch (Bruceville-Eddy) took 8 seconds off her personal best in Nacogdoches, running 5:27.13 in the 1,500m run.

For the men, five Hill College runners in the 1,500m heat -– Garrison Grizzle, Trenton Pentecost, Isaac Arredondo, Miguel Sanchez, and Max Austin – finished within 2 seconds of each other.

Hill College will vie for more personal bests at its final regular season meet of the season – the J. Fred Duckett Twilight Meet April 26 at Rice University in Houston.

The NJCAA Track and Field Championships will be May 15-17 in Hutchinson, Kansas.

For more information on the Hill College men’s and women’s track programs, please visit https://hillcollegeathletics.com.