Spring Break
Georgia athlete elects to compete professionally
ZACH DILLARD
Issue date: 6/25/09 Section: Sports
If the first NCAA championship proved to be special, then Chris Hill's second title was certainly one for the memory bank.
Throw an all-too-important No. 11 ranking into the equation, and Georgia's 2009 Track and Field outdoor season was one that will not soon be forgotten by Hill.
Hill topped off his final campaign for the Bulldogs by tossing his way to back-to-back NCAA javelin titles, all while extending a school record and cementing his place in Georgia history.
"With the first [title] it was a nervous energy type of thing, I was just really pumped and excited with it being my first time there," Hill said. "This time it was more business. I knew what I was capable of and what my body was capable of. So I had it all in my head - I had it won before I even went out there."
But with all of the collegiate accolades in his rearview mirror, the junior All-American will now forego his final season of eligibility to compete professionally in the sport he dominated in college the past two seasons.
Hill plans to finish up his final two semesters of classes at McNeese State University, where he originally transferred from in 2007.
Having already signed with an agent, Hill looks forward to working out a sponsorship with Nike and competing in professional meets across Europe.
His ultimate goals in the present future are now firmly focused on his performances in the U.S. Track and Field Championships and then the World Championships in Berlin this August.
"It's one of those things I've been praying about for a long time and I feel like this is where I need to be," said Hill, who also captured his first Southestern Conference javelin title this season. "I'm a very religious guy and it has just been something that has been on my heart."
Hill will be missed around Georgia's Spec Towns Track next season. In the past two seasons, he has brought home two of Georgia's 13 men's national championships since the school's first NCAA season back in 1936.
Throw an all-too-important No. 11 ranking into the equation, and Georgia's 2009 Track and Field outdoor season was one that will not soon be forgotten by Hill.
Hill topped off his final campaign for the Bulldogs by tossing his way to back-to-back NCAA javelin titles, all while extending a school record and cementing his place in Georgia history.
"With the first [title] it was a nervous energy type of thing, I was just really pumped and excited with it being my first time there," Hill said. "This time it was more business. I knew what I was capable of and what my body was capable of. So I had it all in my head - I had it won before I even went out there."
But with all of the collegiate accolades in his rearview mirror, the junior All-American will now forego his final season of eligibility to compete professionally in the sport he dominated in college the past two seasons.
Hill plans to finish up his final two semesters of classes at McNeese State University, where he originally transferred from in 2007.
Having already signed with an agent, Hill looks forward to working out a sponsorship with Nike and competing in professional meets across Europe.
His ultimate goals in the present future are now firmly focused on his performances in the U.S. Track and Field Championships and then the World Championships in Berlin this August.
"It's one of those things I've been praying about for a long time and I feel like this is where I need to be," said Hill, who also captured his first Southestern Conference javelin title this season. "I'm a very religious guy and it has just been something that has been on my heart."
Hill will be missed around Georgia's Spec Towns Track next season. In the past two seasons, he has brought home two of Georgia's 13 men's national championships since the school's first NCAA season back in 1936.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
CoastalDawg
posted 6/25/09 @ 1:53 PM EST
Personally I would much rather have my college diploma read UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA than McNeese State University but to each his own and certainly I wish this athlete the very best in his career and private life. (Continued…)
who knows
posted 6/25/09 @ 3:32 PM EST
I'm sure he is gonna wanna go to the Olympics in his career, then he would have the United States claim to fame
Pat Stanley
posted 6/25/09 @ 11:57 PM EST
Congrats to Chris. I know his Mom & Dad, & Jimbo are proud of him. Best of luck in the future endeavors. We in Sulphur are proud of you, and we'll keep you in our prayers. (Continued…)
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