Hillhouse indoor track attribute coach and familial aspect to their success
By Jene Thomas and Krystal Goethe
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Darrell Brown, 25, an assistant coach for the James Hillhouse High School indoor track team called the team a “diamond in the rough.”
Despite teams like football and basketball getting more attention than indoor track, Tiffany Bromfield, 27, the other assistant coach said the team’s success is something to be proud of.
“We have championships on championships, rings on rings,” Bromfield.
The athletes on the indoor and outdoor track teams also compete on the cross-country team. The three sports have more than 25 championships, according to Hillhouse high school’s athletic archive. The indoor track team topped the charts of 2015 SCC East Sectional Meet, according to Athletic.net, a site where schools enter their team statistics. Although their season has just taken off, they are coming from a successful prior season.
Akiel Smith, Darius Wise and Tyreise Swain took first, second and third place, respectively, in both the 55-meter dash and x 300 meter race. Alethia Moore in the 55 meter and Jaliyah White in the 300 taking first place for the women. Moore also took first place at the 2015 State Opening Championships for the same event. Shawn Fletcher took first place in the 55-meter hurdles for the men and White for the women.
The track team’s statistics are the result of numerous factors, one being the familial aspect. Bromfield and Brown ran track during their time at Hillhouse and then returned to assist the next generation, teaching the skill and techniques they used themselves.
“I was a part of this program,” said Bromfield, “and we speak very highly of it. We have alum come back every year to help out.”
Despite producing collegiate athletes and winning championships, Hillhouse has a reputation of maintaining well-rounded athletes and bringing alumni back.
“A couple years ago, maybe like two or three,” Bromfield said, “we had a banquet for Coach Moore and we had athletes return, from the first athlete he ever coached to now, and it was amazing to see so many people.”
A number of factors go into the success of the indoor track team. Brown said they’re known for their discipline. He and the other assistant coach Tiffany Bromfield, 27, said they aim to shape well-rounded athletes.
“We want to make great people,” said Bromfield, “we’re not just here to make good athletes. If you’re good at athletics, great; that’s awesome, but if you’re not good at athletics — or if you’re good at athletics but not good in the classroom or good in the classroom but not good at athletics, then we figure out what’s going on and we make it work.”
The team has study hall every afternoon Monday-Friday until 3 p.m. and then head to the field house, home of a new indoor track.
“You have to commit to this,” said Brown. “This is not just something you can come do today and not do tomorrow because we’ll track you down. That’s how we roll around here.
Coach Gary Moore said track “the best sport in the world.” He’s been the head coach for all three track teams for 24 years and in his time, the indoor track team had 14 consecutive state championship wins from 1995 to 2013.
“I’m very fortunate to have been an athlete under him and now being mentored as a coach under him because we try to keep a very familial atmosphere to the program,” Bromfield said.
Coach Moore has been the driving force to push students to run for the school. His daughter frequently attends Hillhouse practices, despite only being in middle school. As he ran track in high school and then college, he said his children don’t have a choice. However, others choose to work under Moore’s guidance.
“We have kids transfer in, we have kids transfer that want to be hear so they can run for Gary Moore and it’s probably one of the most amazing things that I’ve seen,” said Bromfield.
Darius Wise, a senior at Hillhouse, said the team was like a family. After spending so much time together, they’ve formed that family bond.
“The girls and the boys are close. We have arguments, we have disagreements, but we work it out at the end of the day,” said Wise.
Although she participates in the shot put event, Teaira Edwards said Coach Moore will push her to run to keep her body in shape.
“If your coach don’t push you, then he’s not making you any better,” she said. “He helps me a lot because he straight up tells me what I’m doing wrong. He tells the truth and I really appreciate that.”
Just getting their new season underway, the indoor track team will have their first track meet on Dec. 12 at 9 a.m.
