Andre McLean

Here are the all-time best boys in the steeplechase.

Recent L.C. Bird graduate Andre McLean (pictured left by John Herzog) was named for the second straight year as the USA Deaf Track & Field's Runner of the Year. McLean, a distance star for the past four years for the Skyhawks, who will be running at the collegiate level at Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall, concluded his high school career running a 3200 meter personal best of 9:38 to place 10th at the Group AAA State Outdoor Championships. McLean won the award in a composite scoring based off his season best performance ranking against other deaf track & field athletes in the country.   A three-time state qualifier and two-time district runner-up, McLean ran the nation's fastest times for a deaf athlete in the 1600 meter run (4:25.25) and 3200 meter run (9:38.86) with the second fastest time in the country in the 800 meter run (2:02). The margin of time between McLean and the next fastest deaf runners in the US is remarkable as McLean is 21 seconds faster than the next fastest in the 1600 and 50 seconds ahead of the second best in the 3200.   Congratulations to Andre McLean on the second consecutive honor and more importantly being an inspiration to so many athletes, coaches, and fans of Virginia high school cross country and track & field for the past four years!   2010 USA Deaf Track & Field Results (compiled from meet results throughout the season)

Four Virginians competed in the Down Under Games in Australia this past month with a large group of high school cross country runners across the country. Two athletes in particular performed very well in the United States vs. Australia 5K race this past week in Brisbane, Australia.   Andre McLean of L.C. Bird High School (Chesterfield, Va.) and Phillip Blankenship of Kempsville High School (Virginia Beach, Va.) both placed in the top 10 individually. McLean (pictured right by Ben Hovis), a rising senior, finished fourth overall as the third American finisher in a time of 16:46. Blankenship, a recent graduate, finished eighth overall in a time of 17:02. In an earlier race with only American runners on the trip which also made a pit-stop in Hawaii, Blankenship finished ahead of McLean in 6th place at a time of 16:43.   Also running in the Down Under Games from Virginia were Tony McBride of Spotsylvania and Bennett Witcher of Lord Botetourt.   The track & field portion of the Down Under Games were held earlier this month in which a total of 7 Virginian preps competed in the event. The top individual performer from Virginia was Green Run's Monica Williams who won the 400 meter dash for her age division in 57.16 and finished third in the 200 meter dash in 25.56.   Interview with Andre McLean Down Under Games - US vs. Australia Race Down Under Games - All-American Race  

   Take a second and picture your normal cross country race.    Imagine the sound of the gun echoing in your ears as you take those first strides. Your family and friends stand on the sidelines cheering as hundreds of footsteps rumble around you. The crisp, fall air rushes against your face and cools your quickly inhaling lungs. Coaches and parents scream splits at you and the other runners around you as you pass each mile marker and teammates continue to cheer you on. As you reach the spectator-free areas of the course, you start to focus more on how tired your body feels, the soft breathing of the runners around you, their feet crunching the colorful leaves that have recently fallen on the trails you now tread on.    Now take away the gun. Take away the cheering, the rumbling, the screaming, the breathing, and the crunching. What do you have left?    The average cross country race of L.C. Bird junior, Andre McLean (pictured right by Linda D'Amato). Read more...