What An Indoor Track Facility Would Mean For Brockton

Track and field is probably the furthest thing from Keith Gill's mind right now, as recent reports indicate the Massachusetts-based trader is being investigated by financial regulators following the incredible swoon of a lowly Wall Street stock, GameStop, in January. 

But however his story unfolds in the next few weeks -- including Hollywood studios vying for the option on the story's rights -- the 34-year-old Gill, who became a millionaire overnight, likely won't forget about the sport, either. 

Because even before the 2005 Brockton High School graduate became a worldwide figure in January, labeled as the man behind the Reddit name DeepF___ingValue and the YouTube account Roaring Kitty -- and as the inspiration who helped stage a pseudo-revolution with a bullish bet on GameStop -- Gill's legacy was on the oval. 

While it's been more than a decade since his time at Brockton High School, where he helped set two school records, and Stonehill College, where he became one of the program's most prolific athletes ever, those around Massachusetts still see him as the kid who made it big.

A few even followed his path to Stonehill, said current Brockton High School coach John Fidalgo, and many more continued to follow his accomplishments even before he became infamous online. 

Gill, too, seems indebted to the track and field community. 

In the one interview he has given since this wild story became a national phenomenon, he made sure to mention a long-term dream. He told the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 29: 

"I always wanted to build an indoor track facility or a field house in Brockton," he said. "And now, it looks like I actually could do that." 

Only time will tell whether that idea will come to fruition -- Gill lost a reported $14 million on Tuesday as GameStop's stock continued to plunge; it's currently just above $60 -- but many around Brockton are hoping he finds a way to make that promise a reality. 

"The biggest thing that adding another track would do around here is that it would help develop some of the younger talent," Fidaldo said. "Right now, there's just no indoor tracks we can practice or train or sometimes even compete on."

"There's a huge need for indoor tracks in Massachussetts," Fidalgo said. "People forget, it's not just the winter that's bad here. All the way into the spring, going into April, it can be miserable." 

Perhaps it will take an individual like Gill to understand the unique challenges of track and field in Massachusetts and the New England area. Three or four months out of the year, Fidalgo says, it remains nearly impossible for sprinters, jumpers or throwers to train consistently, unless inside an indoor facility. 

And only a few indoor venues are available for many programs in the state: The Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, the Boston University Track & Tennis Center and the Gordon Indoor Track at Harvard. 

The latter is mostly reserved for Harvard athletes, while the first two are mostly used for competition. A few other flat tracks are inside the state, too, but scheduling remains hard for many public teams.

But the Reggie, as most coaches and athletes in Massachusetts lovingly refer to it as, is perhaps the only venue whose purpose is for the public schools. 

Built in 1995, it took a fair amount of work from the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association to even get it done, and as a result, they've allowed for fair use at the venue: Teams often are able to enter meets at reduced prices for local school leagues and championships. 

But as with anything, The Reggie has its disadvantages, especially for those who have to travel far distances to compete -- such as those teams near the Cape, Fidalgo said, where commutes can be anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes. Some league meets are held at 8:30 p.m. on weekdays. 

"There's a huge need for indoor tracks in Massachussetts," Fidalgo said. "People forget, it's not just the winter that's bad here. All the way into the spring, going into April, it can be miserable." 

Building a track and field facility in Brockton could help develop the next round of track talent in the state. 

And while Fidalgo obviously knows a lot needs to go into the decision-making process to make a new indoor facility a reality, he's also hopeful.

Perhaps the MSTCA could partner with Gill on a new project. 

"Maybe they could come in and assist or financially partner with Keith,"  Fidalgo said. "I think that could be something that could happen." 

Saying that, no one would argue if it didn't happen, either. 

"Under the coaching of Joe LeMar, Bill Jenings and Dave Walsh, I learned the basics of training, racing, and how to throw a Brockton elbow if necessary," he said. "By no means were my accomplishments nationally recognized. In fact, I was never even a state champion. But high school proved to be the perfect stepping stone to my collegiate success." 

After all, it was just an idea. 

In some ways, seeing Gill's name pop up again wasn't surprising. He had always developed a knack for accomplishing grand visions. His history in track is the stuff of legend around Massachusetts. In a 2008 FloTrack article, Gill is quoted as saying: 

"Under the coaching of Joe LeMar, Bill Jenings and Dave Walsh, I learned the basics of training, racing, and how to throw a Brockton elbow if necessary," he said. "By no means were my accomplishments nationally recognized. In fact, I was never even a state champion. But high school proved to be the perfect stepping stone to my collegiate success." 

Gill went from a very good high school athlete -- he still holds two school records at Brockton in the 4x800 and the DMR -- to an excellent one in college, becoming an All-American for Stonehill College in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, where he still holds school records for the 800m (1:52) and the mile (4:03.43).

While injuries limited him from going after a sub-4 mile, his career was an unquestioned success. 

That veteranship likely proved the difference in other areas of his life, too. 

Fildago says that experience on the track -- understanding how to run on the edge of red-lining -- is likely what makes him such a hard-nosed trader. In Gill-speak, that's akin to 'Remaining diamond-handed' on a bet when others might want to tap out.

"Your mentality as a person, it doesn't just translate to track," Fidalgo said. "It's how you approach life. And we've all seen it. The kids who play it safe in races, the ones who hold it back, that's their personality in everything.

"But the friend who runs a 4 minute mile, he's willing to go to that dark place. That personality, it comes through in everything." 

Gill's High School Stats: 

2004 Indoor:

2003 XC: