We've got a starter

Coach Severt Legred
One of my friends helping with the race thought his coach would be interested in coming to the race, lo and behold we have an official track and field hall of fame race starter. Severt Legred sounds like a very interesting man and I can't wait to meet him. Thanks Dan Lovik for getting Severt to come .


OUR STARTER
A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA TRACK AND FIELD
HALL OF FAME
SEVERT LEGRED

Severt Legred. A native of Bricelyn, Minnesota, Legred competed in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field in high school. He graduated from St. Olaf, earned a Master’s Degree and went on to teach economics at Gustavus where he was the head coach for the cross country team and distance coach for the track team from 1967 to 1969. He moved to Golden Valley Lutheran College, a two-year junior college in the fall of 1969. There, Legred founded the men’s cross country program and the track program the following spring of 1970. Under Coach Legred’s guidance from 1969 through 1985, Golden Valley remained a powerful force in cross country and track in National Junior College competition. The men’s team placed 3rd in the National Cross Country Championship in 1973 and moved up to 2nd place in 1974. Highlights included two National Men’s Marathon Team Championships in 1980 and 1981. Coach Legred also assisted with the founding of the women’s teams in 1974 at Golden Valley. Legred’s Golden Valley women won the National Cross Country Championship in 1981, plus twice finished 2nd in 1980 and 1984. In total, Coach Legred’s teams won 28 Men’s State Championships, 10 Women’s State Championships, 25 Men’s Five-State Regional Championships, and 8 Women’s Regional Championships. As Individuals, his athletes accumulated 37 Men’s All-American and 30 Women’s All-American honors, and 11 National Championship Gold Medals. Five of his athletes qualified to compete in the US Olympic Trials. Legred resides in Golden Valley during more moderate Minnesota weather and in Mesa, Arizona the remainder of the year.