WHITE Hills siblings Jake and Kyle Hilson have shown their rivals a clean pair of heels at last weekend's Ballarat Gift meeting.
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The talented athletes had a carnival to remember, with both emerging with gold medals.
Younger brother Jake produced one of his best efforts of the season to win the 120m under-18 boys, off 7.5 metres, in a time of 12.67 seconds.
While Kyle captured gold in the open 400m, off 81 metres, in a time of 46.78 seconds.
Sprinter Jake was also third in his heat of the open 120m gift behind recent Maryborough Gift winner Simon Jackson.
The 17-year-old has been largely concentrating on amateur events this season, but hoped to have a tilt at the prestigious Stawell Gift in April, a couple of weeks after contesting the Australian junior championships in Sydney.
He is already qualified for the 400m at the nationals and is also aiming to win a place in the 800m field.
Naturally pleased with his 120m win, Hilson said he was equally delighted with his effort in his first ever gift start.
"Next week I'm running in the Stonnington Gift, which is a $15,000 race and brings some good runners out," he said.
Kyle's 400m victory was a carbon-copy of his heat win, with Hilson narrowly outlasting Eaglehawk runner Glenn Stephens (52 metres).
In a good day for the 20-year-old, he added a bronze medal in the 400m under-20 final after earlier winning his heat.
Kyle said the win capped a satisfying season to date, with big events at the Bendigo International Madison and Stawell still to come.
The brothers credited their father and long-time athlete Greg Hilson as one of their sources of inspiration on the athletics track.
"We look up to him and he motivates us," Jake said.
"He also takes us everywhere."
"He's suffered a couple of injuries over the years, but stuck at it and likes keeping fit."
The run of success for Bendigo athletes at Ballarat continued with Lonain Burnett's win in the 800m open.
Adam Parker narrowly missed out on a gold medal, finishing second behind Leon Brooks in the 1600m masters and women's.
Parker was also 11th in the final of the 3200m, with Eaglehawk's Jacob Nolan finishing seventh.
