Mt. Lebanon hurdler reaching new heights

Curiosity caused Patrick Kimball to attempt hurdling in middle school. Talent, though, has taken him to the top. Currently, the Mt. Lebanon senior owns some of the top times in the state for the 110-meter high hurdles as well as the 300-meter intermediates.
Of hurdling, Kimball said, “I thought it looked cool. I followed it during the Olympics and it looked like it was really cool so I asked the coach if I could try it.”
Rich Hines obliged. The English teacher and head track coach at Mellon Junior High permitted Kimball to participate in the event as a seventh-grader. “He said sure, I could try it but I don’t think he expected much. I loved hurdles from the start. Something about it just clicked with me.”
Hurdling certainly has brought out the best as well as the competitor in Kimball. His times rank among the Top Five in school history but by the end of the season, he hopes to own the outdoor school records. He already has competed nationally during the indoor season.
Last spring, Kimball took third in the high hurdles and fifth in the intermediates during the WPIAL championships. But his times this spring are already faster than last year’s finishes.
His 14.1 time in the 110-meter distance ranks third in school history. While his personal record in the 300 meters is 39.4, he won the event during a dual meet last week against Upper St. Clair in 39.6. He needs a drop of about 1.5 seconds to top the school mark in that event.
“Because of the nature of that race, it is easier to drop time,” he said. “I’m going to push myself. It’s going to take a lot but I am going to try and get it. Hopefully by the end of the season, I can lock up the school records (in both events).”
While Kimball looks to break 14.1 in the 100 and 38 in the 300, he also aims to place during the PIAA championships set for May 27-28 at Shippensburg University.
“Hurdles are my main point of focus and my goal is to place in the state championships,” he said. “I think my experience from last year will help. I know I’ll go in there more relaxed and not as worried as much about who is there. The best people in the state are there but everybody wants to show who they are and what they can do. I want to go there and do the same. Get my name out there essentially,” he said.
Because of his success at New Balance Nationals held in mid-March at The Amory Track and Field Center in New York, Kimball made a name for himself. During the indoor track meet, he posted his best time (8.15) in the 60-meter hurdles. The event featured the national record holder and was won by Isaiah Moore in 7.25.
“That was the biggest meet that I have participated in,” Kimball said. “The best in the country were there and I was nervous, having to go against them. I raced against the national record holder and all I wanted to do was stay as close as I could to him and hopefully, he would pull me along.”
So far this spring, Kimball is pulling himself along because he has been able to stay injury-free, and because he has found the rhythm necessary to be successful in hurdles. Last season, he had a problem with his right leg, the one in which he clears the hurdles first. The strong indoor season coupled with an intense training regimen from football has enabled Kimball to stay healthy. To prepare for the fall football season, in which he averaged 22.8 yards per catch as a wide receiver, Kimball participated in strenuous workouts.
“Football helped,” he admitted. “The type of workouts and the lifting we did helped me get stronger. But, I really like track better than football. I like racing people and the individual competitive nature of the sport.”
Kimball also prefers the high hurdles to the intermediates. He competes in the long jump as well but that is to benefit the team, to help the Blue Devils garner more points in dual and championship meets.
“The long jump is a complementary event (to hurdles),” he said. “The sprinting and hurdling go together. But I like the 110s the best because it’s not as long as the 300s. I like how fast-paced it is and how quickly the race can change.”
Clipping a hurdle impacts a race. Because of his experience, Kimball doesn’t do that as often. “Last year, I would get one or two skins a race,” he said of the abrasions caused by nicking a hurdle. “When you hit a hurdle it slows you down. It can ruin your rhythm.”
While he leads with his right leg on the highs, Kimball may alternate legs on the 300, especially on the turn. “I try to make it with my right but it usually can get switched. I can go either leg on the 300s but in the 110s it’s shorter and quicker and there are a certain amount of steps you take in between hurdles. I don’t think about it as much anymore. I just naturally go over with it.”
Kimball goes over the hurdles easily these days because he is less anxious before races. “I make sure I am relaxed before I run. I try not to get overly excited or stressed. I focus on my breathing and getting into a rhythm.”
The winning rhythm is earning Kimball notoriety. Currently, he has gained the attention of the track programs at the University of Rhode Island, Akron and Pitt. Kimball hopes to run track in college and pursue a degree in physical education or athletic management training.
“Since nationals, colleges have been recruiting me, but I am waiting to make my decision after the bigger meets,” said the 18-year-old son of Jean and Scott Kimball.
After this weekend’s meet at West Mifflin, Lebo will visit Baldwin April 27 for a competition that will determine the section champion. The Blue Devils will compete in the South Fayette Invitational on April 30 before the WPIAL team semifinals will be held May 3. The Baldwin Invitational on May 6 will be a tune-up for the individual qualifiers. The Southern Qualifier is set for May 12 at West Mifflin and the WPIAL individual championships are scheduled for May 19 at Baldwin. Top finishers advance to the PIAA championships.
“My goal is to place in the hurdles, break the school records and try to qualify for nationals again,” he said.
Between now and then, Kimball is certainly going to work hard to reach his goals.
“Work hard,” he said is the main thing that he has learned through athletics and competition. “That’s how you are able to get what you want and can achieve.”