arry Gill, an unknown athlete, became an overnight sensation when he won the American All-Around Championship in 1900. Impressively, this was Gill’s first ever All-Around competition and his competitors became spectators as his performance led to a record setting score. Gill collected many medals and set world class marks in 5 events, but more importantly he acquired invaluable insight that fueled his next endeavor.

 

In 1904, Gill began his legendary coaching career at the University of Illinois. There he established a coaching career so successful it was without equal and his reputation in the track and field world was unimpeachable. Gill authored the book, Track and Field Athletics: For Coach and Contestant that for years served as the sports standard coaching manual. In this book he wrote “a great deal of care should be taken in selecting the equipment used by track and field athletes. Their performance depends on the implements they have in which and with which to compete - and good equipment helps considerably in making the best performances.”

 

Unsatisfied with the quality of track equipment available, it was in 1918 that he crafted the first piece of his own track equipment, the ash javelin.  In four short years, the company bearing his name was the first to manufacture a complete line of track and field equipment.  The most enduring of all of Gill’s accomplishments is his line of track and field equipment. Gill’s company is responsible for a long list of innovative equipment that has been instrumental in elevating the sport and performance of track athletes worldwide.

 

100 years later we have never wavered from Coach Gill’s vision and consider it a great honor to be stewards of his legacy.