Tar Heel Trailblazer: Reggie McAfee

Reggie McAfee's goals never were to win a national championship or be recognized for his achievements, yet he has done each of those things and exceedingly more.

The first African American to break the 4-minute mark in the mile and a four-time All-America performer at UNC, McAfee will be celebrated this month as a Tar Heel Trailblazer, which recognizes former Black student-athletes who paved the way for success in all aspects of the student-athlete experience.

McAfee and fellow 2022 Tar Heel Trailblazer Synthia Scott Kearney will be honored during the Carolina-Florida State men's basketball game on Feb. 12.

"It's an incredible honor to be selected as a Tar Heel Trailblazer," McAfee said. "Just to be thought of in the same class as some of these previous winners is very special. I'm honored to be on the same footing as these folks.

"Carolina is where I developed my friendships with my teammates, classmates, coaches, staff and professors. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be there because the relationships I've built over the years have been priceless. There were some special people whose shoulders I'm standing upon today because I know what they did for me. I'm trying to be the best person I can be to make them proud."

A native of Cincinnati, McAfee arrived in Chapel Hill in the fall of 1971 following two years at Brevard College, where he captured three national titles: 1970 Cross Country, 1971 One Mile Run and 1971 Two-Mile Run. He remains the only Brevard College athlete to win three individual national championships.

It didn't take him long to taste success once he got to UNC, winning the 1971 NCAA District III Men's Cross Country championship. He finished second at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the mile in 1972 and '73 and third at the outdoor mile both seasons as well. He also a four-time ACC champion.

It wasn't until his senior season that McAfee achieved his lifetime goal of breaking the four-minute mark in the mile. He realized his dream at the Big Four Meet in Raleigh in May 1973, hurdling the obstacle with a time of 3:59.8. A week later he won the mile at the ACC Outdoor Championships with another sub-4-minute mark, his second of seven sub 4-minute mile runs.

"There weren't many people that looked like me running the distance then," he said. "As I reflect on some of the barriers I was experiencing, there were a lot of unusual things happening and to be able to navigate that and accomplish that goal makes it more special now."

McAfee experienced success on the international stage as well.

An Olympic Trials finalist in 1972, he claimed the bronze medal in the 1500m the following year at the 1973 World University games. He also won the 3000m at the 1973 International Track Meet in Toronto, defeating 1972 (and 1976) Olympic Gold Medalist Lasse Viren.

After 26 years with Xerox Corporation, McAfee retired and started Cross Country For Youth (CCFY) in 2006 with the desire to assist the kids in the Charlotte community through his passion for running.

Alongside his wife of 44 years, Rosa, McAfee has served for the past 15 years as the executive director of the organization he founded which introduces young people (ages 8-14) to cross-country training, character-building, nutrition concepts and social-emotional training to develop the whole person.

"I've always known I was going to give back," McAfee stated. "Too many people blessed my life, invested in me, and cared about me. It's only fair that I did the same thing. When you've been blessed with God-given talent like I have, you've got to make a difference in the lives of others.

"Some of those kids that were with us in the early years now they're coming back to coach, volunteer and support the organization financially. That's what it's all about."

CCFY was named the winner of the 2013 National Student-Athlete Day Giant Steps Award in Community Organization by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports.

"Words of encouragement to young people makes a difference in their lives," McAfee said. "A guy said something to me one time after I finished a race in middle school that I've never forgotten. I was passing guys on the final lap of the relay and when I got to the finish line, I hit the ground and this man looked down at me and said, son one day you're going to be a great runner. That stayed with me, and that word of encouragement certainly made a difference in mine."

He is a member of the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame, Brevard College Hall of Fame, and the National Black Distance Runners Hall of Fame in addition to the Carolina Track and Field's Hall of Honor.

University of North Carolina Athletics

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