VERMILLION, S.D. -- The South Dakota Track and Field program will honor Rich Hanson and Glen Nelson for their contributions to track and field during the Dan Lennon Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, March 27-28, at the DakotaDome on The University of South Dakota campus.

Hanson and Nelson, both of Sioux Falls, S.D., will be the 2006 recipients of the Dan Lennon Award. Hanson will be presented the Lennon Award on Monday while Nelson receives his honor on Tuesday during special presentations at 4:30 p.m. in the DakotaDome.

The Lennon Invitational, which will include more than 1,000 high school student-athletes from throughout the region each day, begins at noon and concludes at 9 p.m. with the A competition on Monday and the B competition on Tuesday.

Rich Hanson A long-time track and field official, Hanson began his officiating career in 1959 with football, but started officiating track and field in 1964. He has served as the starter for numerous regional and conference meets throughout the region at all levels, as well as many South Dakota state track and field meets. Hanson, who officiated the very first football game played in the DakotaDome in 1979, was the assistant starter for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships held in Vermillion. He has been the starter for the Howard Wood Dakota Relays since 1994 and served as the South Dakota High School Activities Association track rules clinician since 1999. In addition to officiating, Hanson, a native of Aberdeen, S.D., has been a member of the Howard Wood Relays Board of Directors since 1975. He also serves on the Sports and Recreation Committee for the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. In 1991, he received the National Federation of Officials Association's (NFOA) active track and field award for South Dakota. Hanson was also recognized as the NFOA National Distinguished Contributor Award and the B'Nai B'Rith Sioux Falls Sportsman of the Year. Hanson earned a Bachelor of Science degree (1958) and a Master's degree (1962) from Northern State.

Rich Hanson

Glen Nelson Nelson, a 1952 graduate from USD, played football for the Coyotes from 1948-51, including starting at defensive tackle on the 1950-51 teams. His 33-year coaching and teaching career began at Carthage High School in 1952, where he coached all the sports for three years and won conference titles in football, basketball and track. His track team won the first-place trophy at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays in the 440, 880 and mile medley relays. In 1955, he accepted a teaching and coaching job at Centerville High School, where he led his team to the Big "8" Conference Basketball title in 1956-57. Upon leaving Centerville in 1957, Nelson served as an assistant football and track coach at Washington High School in Sioux Falls. While at Washington, Nelson coached the pole vaulters and jumpers under head coaches Elmer Hansen and Dean Mann. In 1974, he began a 23-year stint in the Elk Point School District. Nelson served as the head football and wrestling coach, while assisting Rod Knutson in track. In 1977, Elk Point won the Class B state track and field championship. The following year, Elk Point won its second-straight conference title in track and was one of three teams to tie for the league championship in football.

Glen Nelson

Class A/B Field Events Schedule 12 noon: Girl's Pole Vault, Girl's Triple Jump, Boy's High Jump 2:30 p.m.: Boy's Triple Jump 2:30 p.m.: Girl's High Jump 2:30 p.m.: Boy's Pole Vault 2:30 p.m.: Girl's Shot Put 4:30 p.m.: Girl's Long Jump 5:30 p.m.: Boy's Shot Put 6:30 p.m.: Boy's Long Jump

Class A/B Running Events Schedule 12 noon: Girl's 3200 Meters 12:20 p.m.: Girl's 60 Meters Hurdles- prelim 12:40 p.m.: Boy's 60 Meter Hurdles- prelim 1:00 p.m.: Girl's 60 Meter Dash- prelim 1:25 p.m.: Boy's 60 M Dash- prelim 1:55 p.m.: Boy's 3200 Meter Run 2:15 p.m.: Girl's 60 Meter Hurdles- semi 2:25 p.m.: Boy's 60 Meter Hurdles- semi 2:35 p.m.: Girl's 60 Meter Dash- semi 2:45 p.m.: Boy's 60 Meter Dash- semi 2:55 p.m.: Girl's 4x200 Meter Relay 3:25 p.m./3:30 p.m.: Boy's 4x200 Meter Relay 4:30 p.m.: Special Presentation 4:45 p.m./4:30 p.m.: Girl's 60 Meter Hurdles- final 4:50 p.m./4:35 p.m.: Boy's 60 Meter Hurdles- final 4:55 p.m./4:40 p.m.: Girl's 1600 Meter Run 5:15 p.m./5:05 p.m.: Boy's 1600 Meter Run 5:40 p.m./5:35 p.m.: Girl's 60 Meter Dash- final 5:50 p.m./5:45 p.m.: Boy's 60 Meter Dash- final 6:00 p.m./5:55 p.m.: Girl's Sprint Medley Relay 6:30 p.m./6:25 p.m.: Boy's Sprint Medley Relay (2-2-4-8) 6:55 p.m.: Girl's 400 Meter Dash 7:25 p.m.: Boy's 400 Meter Dash 7:55 p.m.: Girl's 800 Meter Run 8:20 p.m.: Boy's 800 Meter Run 8:40 p.m.: Girl's 4x400 Meter Relay 9:00 p.m.: Boy's 4x400 Meter Relay 9:20 p.m.: Awards