(Posted Feb. 20, 2019) The Mecklenburg County Commissioners voted last night to name the cross country course at McAlpine Park in Charlotte the "Larry McAfee Cross Country Course at McAlpine Park". McAfee designed, built and has maintained the cross country course since 1978. He served as a teacher in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools from 1971 to 2000, and Cross Country and Track Coach at East Mecklenburg High School from 1974 to 1999. McAfee has also worked as a National Park Ranger in Badlands, Arches, and Joshua Tree National Parks. The Board's Naming Application said: "In the 40 years since the cross country trail was built McAlpine Park has hosted over 200 major cross country events, all under the administration of Larry McAfee. Included in these events are the prestigious Wendy's Invitational which will be held in the park for the 40th time this year as well as the Foot Locker South Regional. These two races alone bring over 10,000 people into the park annually. Beyond these two races, the course hosts numerous school invitational events as well as conference and regional championships each year. The course has also played host to state championships for all four NCHSAA classes as well as having attracted national collegiate and AAU championships, beyond the daily use that the community has enjoyed since the creation of the course in the 1970s." Coach McAfee's cross country teams won 27 conference, 21 regional, and 5 state titles. Among his awards and honors are: -- Charlotte Observer Top-10 All-Time High School Mecklenburg County coaches -- 2017 Mecklenburg County Wall of Fame Honoree -- Member of the inaugural class of the North Carolina High School Track & Field/Cross Country Hall of Fame (2019) Video: Course Walk - McAlpine Park McAlpine Course Map/Details 1998 Article/Photo on McAfee 2019 Interview: Larry McAfee

2019 Cross Country Menu | Main Menu

NCPrepTrack.com