He set an American record over the mile in 1930 and won a silver medal in the 5000 m event at the 1932 Olympics.

[1] Hill studied at the University of Oregon when competing in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles on the 5000 m. In an exciting race on August 5, 1932, he came in second behind Lauri Lehtinen, with each runner recording a time of 14:30.0.

The judges deliberated for an hour before deciding not to disqualify Lehtinen, who had appeared to block Hill twice.

Hill refused to file a protest, stating that he believed Lehtinen's obstruction was accidental.

The local Henley High School renamed its football field in September 1992 after its alumnus Hill.