VERMILLION, S.D. - Mark Ovenden of Sioux Falls, S.D., will receive the 2004 Dan Lennon Award during a special presentation at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 29 at the DakotaDome during the Class A portion of the Dan Lennon Invitational Track and Field Meet. Ovenden, the sports director at KDLT-TV, is the 12th recipient of the Lennon Award.

A year ago, USD honored Gene Danielsen, the former head track and field coach at McCook Central (formerly Salem High School). Jim Miner of Yankton received the 2002 Lennon Award. USD is recognizing Ovenden, for his contributions to the promotion of track and field in the four state-area. Ovenden becomes just the second member of the media to receive the award (Hod Nielsen, Yankton Press and Dakotan).

According to South Dakota head coach Dave Gottsleben, Ovenden was selected because of its commitment to high school track and field coverage. "Mark Ovenden and KDLT has been a leader in providing information about track athletes and their performances for the past 15 years," said Gottsleben. "In addition, they have thoroughly covered the Dan Lennon Relays over the years, thereby informing the public about the many great performances at the meet."

At KDLT, Ovenden started the Athlete of the Week feature, which features area athletes, and he was also responsible for the Sports Wrap show that ran two years. It was the first half hour sports show of its kind in the area. Ovenden and his staff dedicated the show's content to local sports and commentary from local media, coaches and others.

A native of Boston, Mass., Ovenden has been working in television in South Dakota since 1978. For the last eight years, Ovenden has served as sports director for KDLT-TV. Prior to that he worked at KELO-TV for eight years and spent nine years at KSFY TV as its sports director.

Before coming to USD, Ovenden worked in television in Richmond, Va., and Rockford, Ill.

While in South Dakota, Ovenden has worked radio sports broadcasts for both South Dakota football (1982-86) and Augustana football and basketball (1978-82). He also did TV broadcasts of the state football and basketball championships from 1981-85. Ovenden also worked on the Howard Wood Dakota Relays Committee for 15 years.

His three sons all attend area colleges. Ryan, a former state track meet MVP, played football at Augustana and will graduate this spring. His son Nick is a sophomore at Augustana; and other son, Nate, isjj a freshman at the University of Sioux Falls.