Ralph Hill (December 26, 1908 – October 17, 1994) was a distance runner at the University of Oregon. He set an American record over the mile in 1930 and won a silver medal in the 5000 meters event at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.
Hill attended Henley High School, outside of Klamath Falls before studying at the UO. He started the long succession of Oregon distance runners, training as the pet project of Coach Bill Hayward in the 1920-30s. In a dual meet with Washington, he faced the Huskies’ Rufus Kiser in the mile, a runner he had never beaten during a two-year period. At the point when Kiser had always taken the lead, Hill held on for a four-stride victory in an American record time of 4:12.4, although it was not sanctioned until a year later.
He placed three consecutive years in the national collegiate championships in the mile, finishing second in 1931. By the next year, he had moved up to 5,000 meters and won the AAU title. Three weeks later, he challenged the Finns, the recognized masters of distance running. He was attempting to pass Lauri Lehtinen in the Olympic final, when the Finn veered out to prevent it and then repeated the incident inside. After two hours deliberating the result, Hill was placed second, but he refused to protest. Both runners posted identical times of 14:30, a personal best for Hill.
After college Hill made a career of farming near Klamath Falls. The local Henley High School renamed its football field in September 1992 after its alumnus.
Hill is also a member of the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame.