Keith Gill of Brockton Overcomes Injuries to
Shine on the Track
By Jim Fenton, Enterprise staff writer
EASTON — There were times during his sophomore year when
Keith Gill wondered about the future of his running career at
Stonehill College.
The Brockton resident had to miss the cross country and indoor
track seasons in the 2005-06 academic year due to illness,
resulting in a long, frustrating stretch for Gill.
Making things even more difficult for the former Brockton High
School standout was the fact that it took a while to determine he
had mononucleosis and anemia.
Gill, who also sat out his freshman cross country season with an
injury, considered the possibility his career might stall out.
“Yes, I did, especially after missing two seasons last
year,” admits Gill. “I was thinking, 'Is this worth
it?' I was in so much pain. My body was not cooperating. Maybe I
just wasn't going to be able to do it.”
Gill didn't let the setbacks get the best of him, however, and has
bounced back in sensational fashion.
He became Stonehill's first male track All-America in the
1,500-meter event in the outdoor season last spring, and earned
Div. 2 All-America honors in cross country last November as
well.
Gill, now a junior, is showing no signs of letting up in the indoor
season this winter, breaking a pair of Stonehill records in
back-to-back meets this winter.
His time of 2:27 in the 1,000-meter race at the University of Rhode
Island Sorlein Invitational on Jan. 20 established a new Skyhawks'
mark.
Last Saturday at the Boston University Terrier Invitational, Gill
finished the mile in 4:07.22, the fastest time in the nation this
season and more than two seconds better than the Stonehill record
set by Mario Fraioli in 2004.
Gill's record time has earned him a spot in the NCAA Div. 2
Championships, to be hosted by Stonehill at the Reggie Lewis Center
in Boston March 9-10.
Those injury and illness problems that slowed Gill down in the
first part of his career are just distant memories now.
“I think this is very satisfying for him,” said
Stonehill coach Karen Boen. “Having those setbacks made him a
little hungrier and appreciative. He could see how easily it can be
taken away.”
Gill, a former Enterprise runner of the year at Brockton High, had
his Stonehill career start on a down note when he missed the 2004
cross country season.
He was diagnosed with IT band syndrome, which affects the muscle
outside the thigh and knee, but Gill returned to be the
Northeast-10 Conference freshman runner of the year during the
indoor track season and made All-New England in the outdoor
season.
Ready to build on that success, Gill was sidetracked at the start
of his sophomore year, missing another cross country season.
“When I'd go on training runs, my legs would hurt a
lot,” said Gill. “The pain was so intense. I'd have to
stop and walk. I had pain in my calf area. I had an MRI done and
nothing was showing up.
“By November, I still couldn't run. It was very depressing.
December of that year was brutal. They tested me for mono in
January (of 2006) and found out that's what I had. Then they found
I was anemic, too.
“I've been on a basic iron pill since then and I haven't had
any trouble. I started running again on Valentine's Day (2006) and
I've been fine.”
The success Gill has had in track and cross country are proof of
that as he has emerged as one of the top Div. 2 runners.
At the NCAA outdoor meet last May in Kansas, Gill was seventh in
the 1,500-meter race in 4:04.25. After sitting out the fall and
winter running seasons, it was quite an accomplishment.
“Early in the season, I was progressively getting better and
I was just happy to be racing,” said Gill. “Then I was
doing better and I didn't want to fly out to (Kansas) without
getting some hardware.
“I ran great that day. I kicked it in during the last lap and
past a few runners in the last lap. It was a great experience.
There was a lot of pressure, the stands were packed. Only the best
runners were there.”
Last November, Gill was 27th at the NCAA Div. 2 cross country race
with a time of 30:26.6.
The two record-breaking performances this month indicate bigger and
better things may be on the horizon for the accounting major.
“I think the difference for me in this indoor season is that
it's the first time I've gone into the winter season with a cross
country base,” said Gill. “I didn't have that the last
two years. I've got miles under me and I'm in the best track shape
of my life right now.”
Boen knew she had a special runner enter the Skyhawks' program when
Gill was recruited, and that ability has emerged in the past
year.
“We knew he was pretty talented after what he did at
Brockton,” said Boen. “I truly don't think he's reached
his potential. He's obviously genetically blessed and he's a gamer.
That's a great combination. He hates to lose. He'll break through
pain barriers because he hates to lose.”
Gill, who began running as a youngster at the weekly road races at
D.W. Field Park in Brockton, wants to keep improving, now that the
roadblocks have been dealt with.
“Some guys have two years on me because of the time I
missed,” he said. “I used that as motivation. I don't
think I take anything for granted now. I don't want to waste any
time.
“My lifetime goal has been to run a sub-four minute mile and
I'm getting down there. I'm going to run at the nationals in Boston
and it's going to be great to have my family and friends there to
see me on the national level.”
