FIRST CLASS TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY HALL OF FAME

WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, JAN. 4, 2019 – The first class of the North Carolina

High School Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame will honor athletes, coaches and

media representatives who have significantly impacted the sports on the high school level.

Olympian Kathy McMillan (Hoke County), high school track & field national athlete of the

year Greg Yeldell (North Rowan) and national record-setting sisters Mary and Julie

Shea (Cardinal Gibbons, Raleigh), were among the athletes elected, while legendary state

championship coaches Russell Blunt (Durham Hillside), Stuart Allen (Myers Park,

Charlotte), Robert Steele (North Rowan), and Larry McAfee (East Mecklenburg) were

elected as coaches. Two media representatives who contributed significantly to promoting

the sport, Gene Cherry (Raleigh News & Observer and Reuters), and George

Phillips (NCPrepTrack.com founder) were also elected. A statewide committee of 14 track

and field and cross country coaches, officials and media representatives who cover the

sport extensively nominated and elected the first class.

The first induction ceremony will be Jan. 26 in Winston-Salem during the Mondo Elite High

School Invitational at the JDL Fast Track, which will also house the new Hall of Fame. Each

subsequent class will be nominated and elected each summer, and each induction

ceremony will be held during the indoor track season at JDL Fast Track.

“Over the past 20 or so years, these sports have grown exponentially in North Carolina, and

we wanted a way to honor the people from the past who have contributed so much, while

also letting the current athletes know who paved the way. That we’ve had track and field at

the high school level for more than 100 years and cross country for nearly 70 years without

a Hall of Fame specifically for these sports was mind-boggling, considering that we’ve had

such a high-caliber of athletes, coaches and people who promote the sport in our state.”

Brett Honeycutt, N.C. High School Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame Founder.