Persistence pays off

By Monique Walker, Globe Staff

Stonehill College coach Karen Boen encourages her cross country runners to develop expectations for themselves, then she and her staff work to help the runners reach their goal. Junior Keith Gill of Brockton and senior Kelly Chaisson of Walpole are good examples of what can be achieved.

Gill and Chaisson earned All-America honors at the NCAA Division II National Championships last month. Gill became the fourth men's and Chaisson the third women's cross country runners in Stonehill's history to receive the honor.

Gill also became the first in the school's history to become an All-American in both cross country and track.

"When you're with these kids everyday you see all the sacrifices they make, and when it all comes together it's a great accomplishment," Boen said. "I'm proud of them."

Gill was unsure of where to set his expectations for the cross country season. For the past two years, injuries and mononucleosis kept him from competing in cross country. "I was very skeptical if I would be able to make a full comeback," he said.

But his All-America performance during the spring track season boosted his confidence. Gill finished seventh in the men's 1,500 meters at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track Championships in May. "That," he says, "completely regenerated my thoughts about what I could accomplish in cross country."

Gill considered cross country his favorite sport entering his freshman year at Stonehill. While at Brockton High, he and his teammates placed second in the state in 2003. Since then, Gill's younger brother, Kevin, has been a part of back-to-back Division 1 state championships at Brockton.

Through his high school experience, Gill values the importance of bonding with his teammates because "cross country has a whole team aspect of everyone working together."

This season, he slowly worked his way into competing in the average 5-mile courses. At the Northeast Regional, he finished third, running the 6.2-mile course for the first time in his career and helping his teammates finish second to qualify for nationals.

At the national meet, Gill finished 27th overall to be among the top 30 runners to be named All-Americans. The Stonehill men finished 10th to earn a top-10 finish for the first time in school history.

"He's a very hard worker who loves to compete," Boen said. Gill said completing his first cross country season healthy motivates him for next season, and he would like to see his brother join him at Stonehill if he chooses -- although "I know he would break all of the records I set, but it would be worth it."

Chaisson, meanwhile, ended her senior season with the best performance of her Stonehill career, Boen said. Chaisson pushed from the middle of the pack to finish 27th with a time of 21:25 in the national meet.

"She fought for that spot," Boen said.

Chaisson, who graduated from Bishop Feehan in Attleboro, found success in a hectic season in which she had to balance academics, a student-teaching position, and athletics.

Last season, Boen said, Chaisson competed through a back injury, never complaining.

This year, Chaisson returned as one of the team's veterans. She placed fourth in the Northeast Regional to help Stonehill win the regional title.

It was the sixth regional title for the women in seven seasons.

During the regular season, Chaisson was selected the Northeast-10 women's cross country athlete of the week after placing 17th at the Williams Plansky Invitational. She shared the honor with teammate Dana DeIngenis.

Chaisson, said Boen, "is not known for her speed, but she's a great runner. . . . She's just tough as nails, and she wants it more than other people."

Both Gill and Chaisson will begin training for Stonehill's indoor track season this week. The first meet will be in January.

Boen said the success of Gill and Chaisson "proves you can do things if you put your mind to it."