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Tuesday, April 14, 1998
The News-Star/Michael Meeks A viral attack during the 1996 state cross country meet cost Ruston's Jay Hilton a sure victory. But the runner made amends a year later with the win.
Back on his feet Ruston's Jay Hilton overcame a mysterious blackout in 1996 to become one of the state's best cross country runners.
By KEITH PRINCE Staff Writer It has been 17 months now - Nov. 21, 1996 - but Jay Hilton, the talented Ruston High School distance runner, still remembers the date clearly. And, painfully. The good news is that he has gotten past that nightmare and is back where he belongs - at the head of the Class 5A distance running class. Running a masterful race on that cool November day in Natchitoches, Hilton was 80 yards ahead of the pack and only 150 yards away from a state championship in the 1996 state cross country meet when his legs, his back - and ultimately his lights - went out. "My legs and back just gave way and then I blacked out for about 5 minutes. I didn't even know where I was when my teammates got me awake," Hilton said. The diagnosis was a viral attack and it was the only thing capable of stopping Hilton that day. But the memory hung heavy on Hilton's mind for a solid year. "I couldn't really push myself to the max last spring because I didn't want to black out again. I thought about it every day."  Jay Hilton hopes to win the 1,600-meter race this spring.
Hilton says his junior season was a bust, but he still finished second in the 3,200-meter race at the state meet. "Yeah, I ran pretty well then, but overall I think the year was lost," he said. "I still wasn't over the cross country thing." But this past November at the 1997 state cross country championships, Hilton, now a senior, buried the blackout demon once and for all. "It all disappeared when I went past the location where I had gone down the year before." This time Hilton raced through that spot - and defeated that agonizing memory - to claim the state cross country crown that had dangled so near just 12 months earlier. Two months ago (in February) Hilton gave further evidence that he is back on track as one of the state's premier distance runners by adding the indoor state 1,500 title to his growing list of achievements. Ruston coach Dave Anderson never doubted Hilton would make it back. "He's the best miler I have ever coached," said Anderson. "It was tough to fight through that episode but he kept working hard and now looks better then ever." At 5-8, 140 pounds, Hilton says he has bulked up. "I've gotten a little bit bigger and a good bit stronger," Hilton said. "I don't lift weights, my strength comes from a lot of running." He also says Anderson's guidance is a real key. "He's a tremendous coach. At the first of every season since I was a freshman, he has predicted what my best time will be at the end of the season. So far he has been exactly right every time. It's uncanny. I have no idea how he does that." Thus far in 1998, Hilton is undefeated in the 1,600, winning for a fourth straight time recently in Bossier City. "He clocked the fastest 1,600-meter time (4:19) ever run by a Louisiana sophomore two years ago," said Anderson. "That's his best race and it is the one state title that he wants the most. I think he will get it this spring." Hilton admits to unfinished business. "Winning the 1,600 this spring is a goal of mine. If I can keep improving my time, everything will work out OK. "The mile is my best race. I was second as a sophomore but I believe I can win it this year." Anderson has already proven he knows how to get his athletes to peak. He has produced seven all-Americans at Ruston while winning four cross country titles (1990, 1992, 1995, 1997) plus another in 1990 when he was coaching at Neville. Ruston also won the 1992 outdoor championship. One of Anderson's top runners, 1996 state 800-meter champ Todd Boddie, now a successful sophomore runner for Northwestern State, remembers Hilton as a teammate. "The sky is the limit for Jay Hilton," said Boddie. "He hasn't come close to reaching his potential yet. . . . I believe he will peak in that race and run his best mile time ever." Another friend, Ruston high school junior Kyle Odom, runs cross country with Hilton and says the key is "his competitive nature. His mind-set is to win, whether it's a time trial or a race or anything else. And, by pushing himself, he pushes the rest of us." Now heading into the home-stretch of his final prep season, Hilton said, "I am pretty pleased with the year so far. I just need to keep working on my speed and endurance." And, about the state meet on May 7-9, he says, "that's what I am pointing toward. I want to win the mile. That's my goal."
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