Alissa Boyhtari Runs, Coaches & Works for Grandma’s Marathon
By Tom Hansen
About 18,000 runners took part in Grandma’s Marathon related events this weekend and once again UW-Superior played a role in the festivities. For years, UW-Superior has been hosting Grandma’s Marathon runners in the residence halls and the tradition continued this year.
Several former Yellowjacket alumni broadcasted the race live on the radio again this year on the official Grandma’s Marathon radio station, 560WEBC. Many more from the campus community, including alumni, either race or volunteer on their own for the big event.
But this year, UWS sophomore Alissa Boyhtari was in the middle of the Grandma’s Marathon action. The Yellowjacket cross-country runner has had her hands-full with Grandma’s Marathon related duties as well.
Alissa Boyhtari, UWS Sophomore, encouraging young children to run! (Photo from Grandma’s Marathon)
This WIAC Scholar Athlete is the coordinator of the on-course entertainment for the races this year and even ran the Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon this past Saturday morning.
Prior to the race, Boyhatari said, “I am working there this year, which has been a blast. I love being behind the scenes and learning just how big this race is. Pretty cool for being in my hometown and I will be working this weekend all over the place, actually, and excited for it.”
On Friday, she led the kids as they competed at Bayfront Festival Park, helping out with the Whipper Snapper Races in the afternoon. If that wasn’t enough, she was also the official starter for the William A. Irvin 5K, which also took place Friday.
Boyhatari was the official starter of the Wiliam A. Irvin 5K
The Exercise Science major from Duluth, Minn. would have been at the races anyway during the weekend because several of her family members were running as well. Many of her aunts, uncles, and even her mom and dad raced in the 5K. She ran with one of her uncles in the half-marathon on Saturday morning.
Boyhtari couldn’t wait for the excitement to begin. “My former high school coach at Denfeld High School, Joel Holman, is the race director for the 5K and it will be fun helping him out,” she said. “That will be super exciting, what track athlete wouldn’t want to be the official starter?”
Alissa Boyhtari leading the kids races at Wednesday Night at the Races in 2014 is attached. (Photo from Grandmas Marathon)
She is used to keeping busy and running around anyway. Boyhtari is a sprinter on the Yellowjacket track and field team and also manages to find time to work with a local shoe store company.
“Alissa is a great asset to us here at Grandma’s Marathon and we are glad to have her for the summer,” said Bob Gustafson, the Director of Public Relations for Grandma’s Marathon. “She does a wonderful job with the young athletes and has been a big help coordinating our on-course entertainment this year.”
If by chance you didn’t see Boyhtari this past weekend, she will still be helping out Grandma’s Marathon throughout the summer with the Wednesday Night at the Races program where she will again work with the youngsters in fun races in local communities.
“I love helping out the kids and I get a good speed workout in too! Those little runners sure are fast,” she says.
For more on Boyhtari and her accomplishments at UW-Superior, visit:
http://uwsyellowjackets.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2430&path=wcross
