National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame to Induct Reggie McAfee

CINCINNATI - Dec. 7, 2021 - PRLog -- The National Black Marathoners Association is pleased to announce the induction of Reggie McAfee into the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame. The induction banquet and ceremony will be held during the National Black Marathoners Association's Annual Summit at Cincinnati's Fly Pig Marathon Weekend on Saturday, April 30, 2022.

"We're looking forward to inducting the greatest African-American miler into the hall of fame," says NBMA Executive Director, Tony Reed. "This Cincinnati, Ohio native graduated from Courter Tech High School in 1969, but not before being the Ohio State Champion in Cross Country (1967 and 1968) and setting state records as the Ohio State Champion in the half mile (1:52:5) and one mile (4:08.5). That was the fastest high school double, (half mile and one mile) in the US."

While attending Brevard College from 1969 through 1971, he achieved numerous goals, including

• National Champion - Cross Country- 1970
• National Champion – one-mile run – 1971, National record
• National Champion – two-mile run – 1971
• Current National Junior College Record holder – one-mile – 4:00
• Only Brevard College athlete to win three National Championships

At the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, he went on to become the

• ACC Champion – Indoors and Outdoors in – one-mile
• 1971 NCAA – District 3, Cross Country Champion
• Current UNC 800m record holder (1:46.9)
• Four-time NCAA All -American in the one-mile (Indoors and Outdoors)

On May 12, 1973, he became the first African American break four-minute mile in 3:57.8. He went on to run seven, sub four-minute miles. He other highlights include

• 1972 Runner-Up, one-mile run, Indoor Track Championship
• 1972 1500m Olympic Trials Finalist
• 1973 Gold Medalist – one-mile – USA vs Caribbean Int'l competition
• 1973 Bronze Medalist, 1500m – World University Games, Moscow
• Co-Captain of the USA Team

After college, he won the 3000m (7:56.9), while defeating Lasse Viren, Finland, (Olympic Gold Medalist 1972, 1976 Olympic Games), at the 1973 International Track Meet in Toronto, Canada. He was also the one-mile gold medalist at the 1975 USA-Russia Indoor Dual Meet.

As a coach, he led the Charlotte Flight AAU Track and Field Team coached four National Champions (800m, mile, 4 x800). After retiring as an executive at Xerox Corporation, Reggie McAfee continued to follow his running passion as the Executive Director and Founder of Cross Country for Youth (CCFY). CCFY just completed its 15th season in Charlotte and second year in Reggie's hometown Cincinnati. Visit www.crosscountryforyouth.org/ to learn more about the CCFY program.

Reggie says, "I am incredibly honored to be inducted into the National Black Distance Runners Hall of Fame. I fell in love with running as a young boy and my dream of becoming the First African American to run a mile under 4:00 minutes is something I worked hard to make a reality. To be included amongst the ranks of these six trailblazers is both humbling and energizing!  My goal has been to pay it forward by starting an organization, Cross Country for Youth that instills the love and passion for running in elementary and middle school youth. This recognition makes me think I'm doing something right! I look forward to living up to this honor by inspiring new runners far into the future."

Other 2022 National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame inductees are Ingrid Walters, Michele Bush-Cuke, Shawanna White, Michele Tiff-Hill, Sika Henry, Samia Akbar, and Chicago's Rainbow Running Club.

About the National Black Marathoners Association

The National Black Marathoners' Association (NBMA) is the largest and oldest nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to encouraging African Americans and others to pursue a healthy lifestyle through distance running and walking. It is open to everyone, regardless of his or her athletic ability, ethnic background, or previous marathon experience. The NBMA hosts an annual multi-race summit. Previous races and locations have been Lewis & Clark (St. Charles, MO), New Jersey (Long Branch, NJ), Cleveland (OH), Lost Dutchman (Apache Junction, AZ), Cowtown (Fort Worth, TX), Georgia (Atlanta), Bermuda International Race Weekend, Deadwood-Michelson (Deadwood, SD), Madison (WI), Richmond (VA), Windermere (Spokane, WA), Dallas, Columbus (OH), the Go! St. Louis, and Little Rock Marathons.

For more information, please visit www.BlackMarathoners.org