Junior hurdler Tyler Hill knew he wanted to focus on track after
his sophomore year of football, so he committed himself to the
sport exclusively. Freshman Chelsea Hill, Tyler’s sister, knew she
wanted to stay in tip-top shape for club and high school
basketball, and going out for track would be an easy way to do so.
What the brother and sister didn’t know is that the track would
bring them together like a dinner table, as they now both train
side-by-side each day, working to get better in the same event.
Junior hurdler Tyler Hill knew he wanted to focus on track after his sophomore year of football, so he committed himself to the sport exclusively. Freshman Chelsea Hill, Tyler’s sister, knew she wanted to stay in tip-top shape for club and high school basketball, and going out for track would be an easy way to do so.
What the brother and sister didn’t know is that the track would bring them together like a dinner table, as they now both train side-by-side each day, working to get better in the same event.
“At first I thought it was a little weird,” Tyler said, “but I see her all the time, so actually it’s pretty cool.”
GHS coach Jeff Myers originally asked Chelsea to compete on the team as a thrower after seeing her fire shots into the net as a water polo player in the fall. What he didn’t realize was her long legs, which made her a perfect fit as a center on this year’s varsity girls basketball team, would also allow her to gallop around the track and over obstacles with speed.
“I invited her to come out and throw because of all the things she did in the pool. My first thought was discus,” Myers admitted. “She snuck over with the sprinters and next thing I know she’s with the hurdlers – and she’s looking pretty good on the hurdles.”
“I’m not the best long distance (runner) and I wasn’t having that much fun throwing,” Chelsea said, “so it kind of inspired me to go to hurdles because [Tyler] looked like he was having so much fun on them.”
The next thing hurdles coach Ron Seanez knew, he had the first pair of siblings to ever compete in the same event at the same time in Gilroy High track and field history. Seanez should know something about firsts in Gilroy track history. A 1981 graduate of GHS, he still holds the top marks for hurdles in the 110-meters, 300 and 400. A high-school All-American, Seanez won three Central Coast Section titles and set what was in 1981 a section record in the 330 Low Hurdles (36.46 seconds). Seanez says the siblings both have what it takes to be a natural fit for the 300 Intermediate Hurdles.
“Especially in the 300, you want to be able to maintain the same stride pattern throughout the whole race,” Seanez said. “For guys you want them to have 15 strides in between each hurdle, which Tyler is at right now, and for girls you want them to have 17 in between each hurdle. Chelsea is already able to do so after just a few weeks.”
Both runners are attempting to qualify for the Central Coast Section championships in May, which Myers and Seanez both say is possible but will require diligent training. But currently in the midst of spring break, Gilroy High’s campus is close to resembling a ghost town as students often leave town.
Tyler and Chelsea are no different in that respect, but what they’re doing with their time this week is unique.
The Hill siblings, part of South Valley Community Church, are in Rancho de Sus Niños, an orphanage just outside of Tiajuana, Mexico, with about 30 other church members. The pair are currently helping to make a difference by building houses, playing with the orphans, and teaching them arts and crafts.
It is the first year Chelsea has made the trip while Tyler is now in his third year.
“It’s something we do with our church and it just gives us a chance to reach out to those who aren’t as fortunate,” Chelsea said.
Adds Tyler: “The real inspiration is seeing kids come up to you and warm up to you right away.”
If any of that good karma can come back to Gilroy’s track team, it’s possible the CCS competition will have not one, but two Hills to climb over.