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.

Reggie attended Brevard College from 1969 through 1971, where 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

With such great accomplishments at Brevard College, Reggie was poised for a bigger stage. He left Brevard to attend the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, where 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 to break four-minute mile in 3:57.8. He went on to run seven, sub four-minute miles. 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 International 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 and coached four National Champions (800m, mile, 4×800). 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.

In 2022 Reggie was inducted into the prestigious National Black Distance Runners Hall of Fame. “I am incredibly honored to be inducted into the National Black Distance Runners Hall of Fame, says Reggie. 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 all the great runners before and after me 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.”