Teen running to Jr. Olympics

Kai Hill crosses the finish line during the 200-meter race held recently in Bozeman, Mont. He was recently invited to compete in the upcoming National Junior Olympics after taking two bronze medals at the Pacific Northwest Regional meet in June.

by Tim Bondy

Mountain Home News

Kai Hill has a knack and passion for running fast. That passion lead to the 14-year-old competing in a number of track and field events throughout the Treasure Valley in the past few years that might lead to a couple of gold medals later this month.

Hill started off playing football two years ago at Mountain Home Junior High School, where his running abilities, mainly sprinting speed, were noticed by principal Sam Gunderson, who asked Hill to try out for the school track team.

Since that time, Hill has been a successful dual athlete, playing football and competing in local and regional 100- and 200-meter sprint races.

After placing second in the 100-meter race at the district meet in Middleton, Hill got invited to join the Boise-based YMCA sponsored Team Idaho Track and Field Club.

His winning ways continued at the Snake River State Track meet in June when Hill placed second in both the 100- and 200-meter races against some of the best sprinters in Idaho. Those two silver medals also meant he qualified for this year's regional track meet.

At the regional track meet held at the end of June in Bozeman, Mont., Hill again ran in both the 100- and 200- meter events. But this time, he ran against the best junior sprinters in a five-state region. Hill finished strong considering the calibre of the competition.

"I took third in both of the races , but my times were getting better with each race," Hill said. "My toughest competition is Magnus Hemingway, who is my teammate and best friend."

That pair of third-place finishes at the regionals meant Hill qualified for the National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, scheduled for the last week of July in Sacramento, Calif.

When thinking back about the journey he took just to get invited to the Junior Olympics, Hill said if it wasn't for Gunderson's encouragement and his mother's insistence that he try different sports, he probably wouldn't have joined the track team.

"I'm just glad to participate in the games but would be lying if I said I didn't want to win gold in Sacramento... real bad," said Hill, who is now setting his sights on competing at the 2020 Summer Olympics game in Tokyo if things go well.

To follow Hill's progress and result at the USATF National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships later this month, go online to www.usatf.org.