Running Runs in the Family

by Joe Ryan

Stonehill siblings earned national recognition at the 2008 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Minnesota State University last month.

Keith Gill, 21 of Brockton, a Stonehill senior, was named the Division II National Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. His brother, Kevin Gill, 18 of Brockton, a freshman, finished sixth in the Men’s 1 Mile Run at the Championships which earned him All-American Honors.

“This nationals experience definitely clinched the deal for my greatest running season. Believing you can do something, and actually doing it is completely different, and that was definitely the case this past weekend. I am very proud of my accomplishment. It just shows that hard work pays off,” Kevin said.

Keith finished ninth at the Championships as a foot injury, which sidelined him during cross country and nagged him all year, finally caught up with him.

Keith and Kevin’s performances during the season have been some of the best in the country. Keith’s mile time of 4:03.43 is the best time a Division II athlete has run all year.

Kevin’s time of 4:10.37 for the same event ranked him 11th and he finished the season as the sixth best miler in the country. Kevin was also part of the Distance Medley team which finished fifth at the Championships which earned him his second All-American honor.

“It feels awesome. I wanted to become All American in at least 1 of the races, but to get it for both means a lot,” Kevin said.

Both Keith and Kevin became interested in running at a young age. Before high school they competed in youth races at D.W. Field in Brockton.

“I knew I was somewhat fast growing up. When I was in junior high my mother saw something about local kid’s races at D.W. Field. We went down one Saturday morning and I won,” Keith said.

“I started running because I noticed I had talent at a young age. I used to run the D.W. road races on Saturday mornings and I never lost for my age group,” Kevin said.

Keith and Kevin have made the most of the talent they discovered as children.

Keith is a three time All-American, once in cross country, once in indoor track, and once in outdoor track. Last indoor season he placed fifth at the national championships.

“The accomplishment I am most proud of is being Stonehill’s first three season All-American,” Keith said.

In high school, Kevin won the state championship in the mile his junior year. In college he earned NCAA All-Region honors for cross country and was named freshman of the year for both cross country and track for the Northeast-10 Conference.

Kevin said that he is most proud of winning the state championship in the mile his junior year.

“I knew I had the potential to win that race, but to actually pull it together and run a 4:14 was something I didn’t think I could do,” Kevin said.

Karen Boen, head men’s and women’s cross country and track and field coach at Stonehill, said that their success comes from their toughness.

“Each one of us is born with a certain amount of competitiveness, it’s not learned but you can nurture it…They are tough, they came that way and we just continue to nurture it,” Boen said.

Keith and Kevin have benefited from running on the same team and training together.

“It’s nice because we can support each other on a daily basis. We know a lot about each others abilities and goals. We are able to help each other,” Keith said.

Keith and Kevin push each other and motivate each other.

“If Kevin sees Keith accomplish something it is suddenly not impossible…As Kevin improves it makes Keith try even harder to stay in that roll,” Boen said.

Kevin said that Keith has had a great impact on his running.

“He has influenced me a ton. He gives me a reason to run…He basically got me started and he basically keeps me going,” Kevin said.

Keith agrees that having his brother close pushes him.

“It’s very convenient having someone as close as a brother around whenever you’re striving for lifelong goals. He’s able to push me in ways others might not be able to,” Keith said.

Coach Boen believes that the advantage Keith has is his experience. This is experience Kevin can learn from.

“Keith has more big races under his belt but Kevin has the advantage of just being able to ask his brother what it is like,” Boen said.

Keith does not think his brother needs any advice.

“The only thing I would suggest is that he better start running faster if he wants to erase my name from the record books,” Keith said.

Kevin uses Keith’s success as motivation to surpass his brother.

“The marks he sets motivate me to train harder to break them,” Kevin said.

Both Keith and Kevin share the same long term goals of breaking four minutes in the mile and winning a national championship.

“When I achieve both I will consider my running career a success,” Keith said.

Keith will have another year to complete his goals as he will be returning for a fifth year. Kevin, as a freshman, has at least three years to accomplish these goals.


Jryan340@yahoo.com