SAN DIEGO–Distance runner Meb Keflezighi, San Diego State basketball coach Steve Fisher and World Champion boxer Terry Norris will be inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame on Jan. 31 at the Hyatt-Regency La Jolla at Aventine.
Keflezighi, a San Diego High graduate, is the only runner ever to capture an Olympic Games medal (silver in 2004) and win both the New York City (2009) and Boston Marathons (2014).
Meb, as he is known world-wide, says his biggest thrill was capturing the Boston Marathon in 2014, the year after the bombing. He carried the names of those who died in that bombing on his bib and beat the two top-ranked runners in the world.
“People in the crowd were doing the wave and chanting, ‘USA, USA, USA,’ ”‘ said Meb. “I get goosebumps every time I think of it. Winning that race gave me a sense of purpose. All of the best runners in the world were there—it was my day.”
Coach Fisher turned around a moribund SDSU basketball program which had just one winning season the previous 14 years to becoming an elite program on the West Coast. In 18 seasons with the Aztecs, he posted a 386-209 record making 11 straight post-season appearances and winning at least 20 games each time including a 34-3 record in 2010-11.
“When I came to San Diego I had an instant feeling that I could work with these people,” said Fisher, a two-time national Coach of the Year. “After the first two years I was no longer an interloper. I never want to leave San Diego—I am a San Diegan.”
Norris was a three-time World Champion during his 56-fight career that included a 47-9 career with 31 of the wins coming by knockout in the 154-pound division. He beat boxers like Sugar Ray Leonard, John Mugabi, Meldrick Taylor and Breitbard Hall of Famer Paul Vaden.
Norris was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.