BOSTON MARATHON DIRECTOR TO SPEAK AT SOSC BANQUET
MAIL TRIBUNE
Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray, who in 1978 began a cross-country run in Medford, will be the featured speaker, and the region’s male and female athletes of the year for 2019 will be announced at the Southern Oregon Sports Commission banquet Thursday.
Recognition of the Mail Tribune’s top sports stories of 2019 will be part of a full program at the sixth-annual event.
The banquet will be at Santo Community Center, 701 N. Columbus Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the program begins at 5:30.
Tickets can be purchased at southernoregonsports.com or at the door. Online prices are $30 each or four for $100. Tickets will be $35 at the door. They can also be purchased by calling 541-608-8517.
In addition, Greg Jones, will receive the Sports Advocate Award, North Medford soccer player Stephen Eisenhauer will be presented the Dan Bulkley Spirit of Competition Award and the Youth Sports Official of the Year Award will go to Dave Tostenson.
McGillivray, who is from Medford, Massachusetts, began his 3,452-mile run more than 40 years ago in front of Medford City Hall. It took him 80 days, averaging 45 miles per day, and raised money for the Jimmy Fund.
He’s been the race director of the Boston Marathon since 1987, has completed 156 marathons, including every Boston for the past 47 years, as well as nine Ironman Triathlons.
A renowned motivational speaker, McGillivray also completed the World Marathon Challenge two years go, running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.
Jones served 22 years as the Medford Parks and Recreation director, helping create a concept to develop 10 school sites for public and school use.
He also helped develop the soccer fields at Fichtner-Mainwaring Park in collaboration with the Rogue Valley Soccer Club. It was during his tenure that Medford purchased the land that would become U.S. Cellular Community Park.
Tostenson has been umpiring in Southern Oregon since 1992. He started in football, then added softball and baseball to his agenda. He later joined the City of Medford youth programs and worked a variety of other sports, including soccer, kickball, and flag football.
The SOSC narrowed the candidates for top male and female athletes to five finalists in each.
Up for the male honor are Southern Oregon University track and field’s Zach Beltz, Oakland A’s slugger Seth Brown, Ashland High distance runner EJ Holland, Montana football player Dante Olson and Cascade Christian High wrestler Gabe Vidlak.
Female finalists are cyclocross national champion Clara Honsinger, North Medford wrestler Kyleigh Lopez, Southern Oregon University volleyball player Taylor Ristvedt, North Medford track and field’s Jaida Ross and Southern Oregon University softball player Gabby Sandoval.
Their achievements were impressive, to say the least.
The senior Beltz became the third Raider in history to be named the Cascade Conference male athlete of the year for all sports after winning the national title in the long jump at 25 feet, 7 inches.
Brown, a North Medford graduate, made it to the major leagues after five years in the minors and became the first A’s player in history with 10 hits in his first five games. He batted .293 in 26 games with 13 RBIs.
Holland, now a senior, won three state championships, shattering Oregon prep records each time, and led the Grizzlies to their first cross country state championship in 26 years. He was sixth at nationals.
Olson, a former Cascade Christian High standout, received the Buck Buchanan Award as the nation’s FCS defensive player of the year after breaking his own Montana school record with 179 tackles. He led all FCS teams in stops for the second straight season.
Vidlak captured his second straight state championship during his junior season, taking the 120-pound crown a year after winning at 113. He signed on with Oregon State in the fall.
Honsinger, a former Ashland High athlete, debuted in the elite women’s division at nationals and defeated 15-time champion Katie Compton in one of the sport’s most significant upsets.
Lopez, as a senior at North Medford, claimed her fourth straight Oregon girls state championship, winning the 115-pound crown. She was ranked among the nation’s best.
Taylor, a senior from Portland, became the third player in SOU history to make the NAIA All-America first team. She led the Cascade Conference in kills and attacking average.
Ross won her second shot put state crown in her junior season with a mark 42 feet, 10 inches, and was third in the discus. Earlier in the season, her PR of 48-5 ranked No. 1 nationally.
Sandoval was named the national pitcher of the year after leading the Raiders to their first national championship. Only a junior, she upped her career school record for victories to 77.
Last year, Crater wrestler Logan Meek received the top male athlete award, and St. Mary’s soccer players Meghan Michels and Maddie Wheelock were co-winners of the female athlete award.
Sherm and Wanda Olsrud were honored as sports advocates, visually impaired cyclist Wendy Werthaiser received the spirit of competition award and Jerry Eklund was recognized for officiating.