FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Team Hoyt's Dick Hoyt Named Grand Marshal of the 2015 Boston Marathon
Along with son Rick, Dick Hoyt Completed 32 Boston Marathons. Lisa
Rainsberger to be Honorary Starter of Elite Women's Race.
BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today that Dick
Hoyt of Team Hoyt will be the Grand Marshal of the 2015 Boston Marathon® on
Monday, April 20. Two of the Boston Marathon's most recognizable figures,
Dick and son Rick Hoyt completed their 32nd and final Boston Marathon
together in 2014. Dick announced afterwards that he would retire from the
Boston Marathon.
Dick and Rick Hoyt first ran from Hopkinton to Boston in 1980. In the three
decades since, both father and son have inspired countless participants and
spectators with their unrelenting will power, determination, and incredible
bond. Since 2008, Boston Marathon Principal Sponsor John Hancock has been
proud to serve as a corporate sponsor of Team Hoyt, supporting Dick and
Rick's inspirational example.
"Year after year, Dick and Rick Hoyt toed the starting line in Hopkinton to
celebrate the Boston Marathon, showing millions of runners and spectators
they could achieve anything and that there are no limits," said Tom Grilk,
Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association. "Although he will
not be racing this year, Dick will continue to be at the head of the field,
leading 30,000 runners on their trek to Boston. Dick and Rick Hoyt will
forever be synonymous with the Boston Marathon and the sport of running."
Rick was born a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, unable to walk or
talk. When Rick was 15, he asked Dick to push him in a five-mile road race
to benefit a local recently-paralyzed lacrosse player. Since then, the
Hoyts have competed in more than 1,000 road races, marathons, and
triathlons, father pushing son in a specialized wheelchair. Team Hoyt's
1,000th race together came at the 2009 Boston Marathon.
Rick will again participate in the Boston Marathon, this year pushed by
fellow Team Hoyt athlete Bryan Lyons.
Dick, 74, and Rick, 53, had planned for the 2013 Boston Marathon to be
their final race as a duo. In response to the tragic events of April 2013,
the pair resolved to run Boston one more time in honor of those who were
most affected. On April 21, 2014, the Hoyts crossed the finish line with
nearly 20 members of Team Hoyt, the organization they created to help those
who are physically disabled become active members of the community. In
2014, the team crossed the finish line on Boylston Street in 7 hours, 37
minutes, and 33 seconds.
As Grand Marshal, Dick will ride in a pace car ahead of the lead runners,
heralding to spectators along the course that thousands of runners will
soon be coming. The B.A.A. has reserved the grand marshal role as a
position of recognition and honor. Last year's grand marshal was four-time
Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers, while the 2013 Grand Marshals were
Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb and Sara Mae Berman, Boston champions and pioneers of
women's marathon running.
The B.A.A. also announced today that 1985 champion Lisa Rainsberger will be
the official starter for the Elite Women's division of the Boston Marathon.
This year, Rainsberger celebrates the 30th anniversary of her victory, the
last by an American woman in the open division.
At the 1985 Boston Marathon, Rainsberger cruised to victory in a time of
2:34:06, defeating the field by more than six minutes. After starting the
Elite Women's division, Rainsberger will run the Boston Marathon. She is
also planning to participate in the B.A.A. 5K two days prior.
Boston Athletic Association Executive Director Tom Grilk will start the
Boston Marathon Mobility Impaired participants, while B.A.A. President
Joann Flaminio will start the men's and women's Push Rim Wheelchair
divisions. Christina Whelton, daughter of B.A.A. Board of Governors member
Thomas W. Whelton, will start the Elite Men and Wave 1 at 10:00 a.m. A
member of Boston's legendary Brown family, Christina is the granddaughter
of Walter Brown, founder of the Boston Celtics, former owner of the Boston
Bruins, and President of the B.A.A. from 1941-1964.
About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through
sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's
oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and
supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs.
Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John
Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon
Majors, along with the international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin,
Chicago, and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in
B.A.A. events in 2015. The 119th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday,
April 20, 2015. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit
wwww.baa.org
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