Home » Home » DAVID KILGORE: Four High School State Titles, Member of NCAA National Champs, USATF Athlete of the Year

DAVID KILGORE: Four High School State Titles, Member of NCAA National Champs, USATF Athlete of the Year

By  //  April 17, 2017

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME MEMBER DAVID KILGORE is among Brevard County’s most prolific and versatile runners. He earned four high school state titles while at Holy Trinity, was a member of the NCAA National Champion University of Colorado and recognized as the USATF Male Athlete of the Year in 2016.

DAVID KILGORE is among Brevard County’s most prolific and versatile runners. He earned four high school state titles while at Holy Trinity, was a member of the NCAA National Champion University of Colorado and recognized as the USATF Male Athlete of the Year in 2016.

HOLY TRINITY GRADUATE

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – If you are from Brevard County and involved with running, then you know the name David Kilgore.

David, who had a remarkable high school career at Holy Trinity Episcopal School, was one of the top runners to ever come from the Space Coast.

Kilgore started running during his middle school days. Early on, it was apparent that his talents were unique. As he moved to high school, he began to blossom as a runner.

While with the Tigers, he was coached by Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame member, Doug Butler. Before he finished his high school career, he had accumulated four state championship titles.

Kilgore was the state champion in Cross Country, 1600 meters (twice), and had one team championship (Cross Country and Track). Kilgore was an All-American in the 5K, having once run it in a remarkable time of 14:50.

2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Set May 12 at Cocoa Beach Country ClubRelated Story:
2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Set May 12 at Cocoa Beach Country Club

As his high school days were coming to a close, it was time for Kilgore to be thinking about college, and which one he wanted to attend. The University of Colorado was a national power.

The idea of being a part of a prestigious program like the Buffaloes was enough to entice Kilgore to head west. While at Colorado, Kilgore was a member of the PAC-12 Conference Championship team and also a part of the 2013 NCAA National Championship team.

Kilgore transferred to the University of Florida for his senior year. It brought him closer to home, and he was also able to run cross country for the Gators. After graduating from UF, Kilgore went to graduate school at Oklahoma State University where he was part of the 2015 Big 12 Conference Team Championship.

As his high school days were coming to a close, it was time for David Kilgore to be thinking about college, and which one he wanted to attend. The University of Colorado was a national power.

SET SPACE COAST MARATHON COURSE RECORD

Kilgore was introduced to trail running in the summer of 2014, something he knew nothing about, but was eager to learn and participate in. He had always been interested in the outdoors, so the thought of running trails intrigued him.

That summer, he participated in the Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race. This is a three-day race in the beautiful mountains surrounding Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The summer of 2014 was a busy one for Kilgore, as he also participated in the Nitty Gritty Off-Road Race held in Red Lodge Mountain Resort in Montana. This race includes 14.7 miles of climbing (3,400 feet of elevation) all on dirt roads and single track trails.

Kilgore continued his running in 2015. He won the Everglades Ultras 50 mile run in Copeland, Florida, crushing the field with a time of 6:02. In 2015, he recorded the sixth fastest 50K time in the country.

In the fall, he came back to Brevard County and won the Space Coast Marathon.

David Kilgore was introduced to trail running in the summer of 2014, something he knew nothing about, but was eager to learn and participate in. He had always been interested in the outdoors, so the thought of running trails intrigued him. That summer, he participated in the Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race.

For Kilgore, 2016 continued to be a big year. He successfully defended his Space Coast Marathon title, and in the process set a new course record. He was named the USA Track and Field (USATF) Florida Male Athlete of the Year.

Among his many accomplishments in 2016 were: first place in the Ashwood Awards Bay State Marathon held in Lowell, MA; placing fifth at the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship; a twelfth-place finish at the 50K USA Trail National Championship in Mill Valley, California; first place at the Sky to Summit 50K in Sky Valley, Georgia; and co-champion of the Cats Tail Marathon in the New York Catskill Mountains.

VIDEO: Joe Kohlbrand Played Five Seasons In NFL, Won Championships at Merritt Island and MiamiRelated Story:
VIDEO: Joe Kohlbrand Played Five Seasons In NFL, Won Championships at Merritt Island and Miami

When asked about being inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, David said, “I would like to thank my family, friends, coaches, and community for helping me earn this honor.”

He continued, “I would also like to thank my life-long coach and friend-Coach Doug Butler.”

Butler was inducted in the 2012 inaugural class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

Kilgore is an outdoor enthusiast and will continue to push the envelope as it relates to running.

If you see David in 2017, you’d better look fast or you’ll miss him. He is that fast, and that good, and is also now a member of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

CLICK HERE to see all the members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

When asked about being inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, David Kilgore, above right, said, “I would like to thank my family, friends, coaches, and community for helping me earn this honor. I would also like to thank my life-long coach and friend-Coach Doug Butler.” Butler, above left, was inducted in the 2012 inaugural class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

THE 2021 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 7. 

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS 

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT the 2021 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Announced, Induction Ceremony Set May 12

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced Thursday an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2017 Class of the Hall of Fame.

Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2017 class in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

Special honorary recognition will also be bestowed upon individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and has so far inducted more than 100 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Vice President Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, Assistant Editor Alan Zlotorzynski, local youth sports advocate and promoter Mike Cadore, Friday Night Locker Room Founders Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, former Health First COO Larry Garrison, Cocoa Beach City Manager Jim McKnight and AAU Vice President Rusty Buchanan.

“The list of inductees for 2017 induction include athletes and coaches everybody knows – and some that may have been forgotten with the passing of time,” said Tom Palermo.

ICYMI: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Red Carpet Featured Prominent Athletes, LeadersRelated Story:
ICYMI: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Red Carpet Featured Prominent Athletes, Leaders

INDUCTION GALA & SPORTS AWARDS SET FOR MAY 12

The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Sports Awards will be held Friday, May 12 at the Cocoa Beach County Club.

The festivities include a meet and greet with the area’s sports royalty, dinner and the induction proceeding which includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.

The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the 2017 High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Community Credit Union, First Choice Medical Group, SOAR, Clear Choice Health Care, BioCellular Therapies, Savings Safari, Spectrum Sports, Friday Night Locker Room, Dr. Sangiv Patel, Dr. Mark Pinsky and Rock Paper Simple..

FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, or to make a reservation, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-615-8111.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017

• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES:  Joe Kohlbrand, Football; and Cory Philpot, Football

• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jason Arnold, Baseball; Michael Coffey, Bowling; Reggie Hannah, Basketball;  Paige Kearns, Swimming; and Charles Wilson, Football.

• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Kristen Gordon, Softball; Ray Herring, Jr. Football; Katie Jackson, Soccer; and Hunter Pingston, Football.

• AMATEUR/REC CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Richard Chapman, Little League; Todd Erickson, Softball; Al Genchi, Youth Soccer; and David Kilgore, Running.

• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Skip Arrich, Soccer; Tom Dooley, Baseball; Chuck Keener, Tennis; Steve Lamontagne, Golf; and Mike Soliven, Basketball.

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEES: Jeff Carr, Eastern Florida State College; and Steve Englehart, Florida Tech.

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEES: Linda Anderson, Athletic Director; and Les Stafford, Volunteer

• SPORTS OFFICIALS INDUCTEES: Neely Dunn and Bob Walton.

• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Hillard Grossman.

• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE : Gary Gregory, PAL Boxing.

• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics – Coach Cindy Dropeski, Athlete Chuck Conway and Volunteer Kathi Madden.

• TEAM OF THE YEAR: Cocoa High School 2016 Football State Champions.

• SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Jim Grimes, Basketball, Eastern Florida State College

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame is located in the main athletic building on the Melbourne Campus of Eastern Florida State College. Portraits and biographies of the Hall of Famers are displayed on the wall in the building’s main hallway that runs parallel to the gym and outside the athletic department offices. Memorabilia items and related sports artifacts will be added to the display over time. (Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame image)