Competitiveness fuels rivalry on Albany State track

ALBANY — Around the Albany State campus, students know him as Jamo.

However, when he laces his spikes for a track & field meet, he becomes a fierce competitor.

Jamorris Hill runs everything from 5k and 10k runs, to the 800 and 1500 meter runs as well as the mile relay — the latter three all in the same meet.

“It started with a wager on whether he could run a good leg on the 4×4 and he ran a 48-second split,” Albany State track and field coach Kenneth Taylor said. “He can run 400 to 10k, versatile student of the sport.

Distance runs have high oxygen uptake as they test aerobic capacity. The 400, 800 and 1500 meters are oxygen deficient exercises, meaning oxygen supply throughout the body is low usually resulting in high lactic acid build up.

And how the 165-pound distance athlete trains every day at Robert Cross isn’t a secret.

“600 repeats,” Hill said. “They make me feel what I call strongly weak, that is this workout will make me feel weak, but will then make me stronger.”

Coaches rave about Jamo’s motivation to improve his strength and conditioning.

“He is competitive, runs hard and loves the weight room,” Taylor said.

Hill’s competitiveness has translated into a friendly rivalry with teammate and running partner Khaleed Barret.

They went to rival high schools before Barret signed with Mississippi Valley State University when Jamorris became a senior at Bradwell Institute.

Rarely did the two get the chance to race before college.

“Ever since high school people would compare us all over the internet,” Hill said. “We raced one time and I beat him.”

Running for Albany State, the two compete everyday in practice and have raced in track meets seven times so far this year.

“He is always challenging me to get faster every time we step on the track,” Barret said. “When I see that he’s in my heat I know it’s time to run.”

But for these two, victory over the other isn’t everything, just the motive to get faster.

“I encouraged Khaleed to come here because I knew we could make each other better,” Hill said.

Last year, Hill finished the season with personal best times of 4:17.93 in the 1500 and 1:57.24 in the 800. So far this season he tops those with 4:12.83 and 1:55.60 respectively.

Barret was in both those races.

“That day we had been beside each other the whole race running evenly, perfect split,” Hill said. “We both ran a personal best.”