Maya McFadden Photo
Leonaya Knox: Next stop, Georgia Southern.
Less than a day after Hillhouse High School track star Leonaya Knox broke a 25-year state record for 100-meter hurdles, she signed paperwork before a cheering crowd of family, friends, and peers to declare her commitment to becoming a Division I student athlete at Georgia Southern University.
Knox was one of five Hillhouse athletes to announce their college decisions during a Wednesday signing ceremony at the Floyd Little Athletic Center on Sherman Parkway.
The Hillhouse track team seniors who declared their college-bound decisions Wednesday included Travis James and Khalil Antoine, both of whom attend Cooperative Arts & Humanities Magnet High School; Shalisha Robertson and Knox, who go to New Haven Academy; and Devin James, of Highville Charter School.
These student athletes have broken decades-old state records, become CIAC division champions, and earned a New England gold medal during their time competing at Hillhouse. Some did so even after dealing with major injuries and family losses.
Devin James, Leonaya Knox, Shalisha Robertson, Travis James and Khalil Antione.
Just a day before Wednesday’s signing, the Hillhouse girls team won the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) Championships. Knox took the gold medal in 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.78 seconds, breaking a 25-year state record. Co-op’s Khalil Antoine broke a 30-year record for indoor high jump, after clearing more than 7 feet.
Wednesday’s emcee and Hillhouse assistant coach Darrell Brown told the crowd of over 50 supporters that this year’s group of students not only broke and set their own records but also helped the younger athletes on Hillhouse’s team break records, too.
Brown advised the class of 2024 athletes to lean on the training they’ve received not just to continue their athletic careers, but in all aspects of life as well.
Co-op's Khalil Antoine signs letter for D1 athletics at the College of the Holy Cross.
During the ceremony each student took the microphone to give thanks to their coaches, families, and peers for getting them where they are.
Highville’s Devin James, who is a thrower for Hillhouse, said he never imagined getting the opportunity to leave Connecticut, despite wanting to. His dreams came true Wednesday as he committed to Delaware State University.
Each of the students shared about the impacts of the Covid pandemic on their high school and athletic careers as well as the journey to developing confidence in their abilities, not just on the track, but in the classroom as well.
James dealt with a torn knee meniscus in his left leg his junior year, which required him to sit out for four months of the season and learn to walk, run, and throw all over again. “I felt like I lost everything. I lost my peace,” he said.
New Haven Academy’s Shalisha Robertson committed to Temple University for communications and public relations Wednesday. She thanked the entire track team of students and coaches for becoming a second family for her.
Before Knox took the microphone, Brown recalled her journey to the track. She previously played volleyball and would “sprint across the court faster than the ball” and therefore was encouraged to join Hillhouse’s track team.
Knox told Wednesday’s crowd that she’s learned lessons she’ll remember for life from track. “This taught me more than the sport, it taught me leadership and organization,” she said.
Hillhouse head girls coach Gary Moore: "Everything begins and ends with education."
Co-op’s Travis James said he originally joined the track team to stay in shape and get faster for football. That was until he learned more about the sport.
Travis recalled just how much the loss of his mother impacted his mental health during high school, and how being on the track team helped him get through. Travis committed to Wheaton College Wednesday and concluded that Hillhouse track taught him to have tough skin and how to deal with adversity.
Antoine celebrated not only his next steps to College of the Holy Cross, but also being the third generation of athlete in his family to be trained by Hillhouse’s girls head coach Gary Moore.
Wednesday ends in selfies and dinner at the fieldhouse.
The athletes’ advice for the future Hillhouse track team ranged from telling them to always take care of your mental health and don’t let setbacks determine your future to always put your academics first and to always give 100 percent the first time.
Coach Moore reminded the room that “everything begins and ends with education.”
He continued that his track instruction is not just to develop talented athletes but to teach them life lessons that prepare them beyond the track. He said the secret to three decades of successfully coaching dozens of New Haven athletes lies in his motto: “I’m not going to lower the bar, you got to meet me there.”
He described the five students athletes as legends who have a strong work ethic — and, once they graduate from his team, won’t have to endure the occasional punishments of pushups and holding weighted plates over their heads for not being on time or communicating their absences to him.
Hillhouse’s track teams will attend the Class M State Championships on Tuesday in New Britain and the Class L State Championships for the boys team on Thursday.
Hillhouse's current track athletes, a.k.a legends in the making.