University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pan-American Gold Medalist Lee McRae is Honored to be Among the Pitt Greats
9/4/2019 4:28:00 PM | General
Lee McRae has won two gold medals at the 1987 Pan-American Games. One in the 100-meter and the other in the four-by-one relay. He no longer has either of those gold medals. They were stolen from his apartment years ago. However, that hasn't stopped him from upholding the grit and optimism that got him those medals in the first place.
"They can take the medals but they can't take the joy that I felt on the podium receiving them," said McRae.
That head-down, intrepid mentality comes from the days McRae trained as a kid. Born and raised in Pembroke, North Carolina, McRae grew up obsessed with athletics. There was nothing he wouldn't try.
"It didn't matter what it was, I just wanted to compete," said McRae. "So when I got to the age of nine or 10 I started competing in sports against kids who were older than me. So I got baptized real quick. That fueled the fire in me to work harder."
In 1981, McRae had excelled as a tailback for his high school, West Robeson. He rushed for over 1,500 yards in only seven games. Surprisingly, McRae enjoyed baseball the most of any of the sports that he played. Interestingly enough, his inability to crack the starting lineup on the baseball diamond led to his involvement in high school track and field.
"The guy that was playing shortstop was older than me and he was more suitable to play that position," said McRae. "I wasn't too comfortable with the coach putting me in the outfield because I thought I was good enough to play in the infield. So it got to the point where I just lost interest in baseball. I didn't want to just go home after school, so I asked the track coach if I could go out for the team."
In high school, McRae was pushed to his limits and responded impressively. His childhood friends were considerably older than him. They'd go to the local university track and train. McRae would tag along, train with them and ended up gaining the respect of his friends.
"They were like 'wow this guy is good'," said McRae. "It was a small college in my hometown called Pembroke State University. When I played against guys my age I was always a notch or two above them."
As a two-sport athlete, McRae became known as the exceptional athlete in town.
"I ended up placing fourth as a freshman in high school," said McRae. "The assistant football coach called his friend who ran the club youth track and field program. It came to the point where I started competing for the track club and they asked me to stay up in Durham over the summers. Then I would go back home to play football. I won states and set the 100-meter state record."
When it became time to choose a college to attend, McRae had one city in mind from the beginning.
"I have always been a Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan," said McRae. "I really didn't know anything about the University of Pittsburgh until my club coach had a connection to Pitt. I was always a Tony Dorsett fan. I went up there and they brought me through the tunnels at night. That's what sold it for me."
Coming into Pitt, McRae had a decision to make immediately. He wanted to play both football and run track for the Panthers. Unfortunately, the backfield in Oakland was stacked. Coaches told McRae that he needed to redshirt and gain about 30 pounds.
"I didn't want to do that," said McRae. "So I said I'll just run track and field. I just wanted to compete and win."
Winning is what McRae was best at. He won four NCAA titles at Pitt and is a seven time first-team All-American. On top of that, he won three consecutive NCAA indoor national championships (1986-88) in the 55-meters and also won the 1986 NCAA outdoor national championship in the 100-meters. He was a four-time indoor All-American in the 55-meters and three-time outdoor All-American (twice in the 100-meters and once in the 200-meters).
"Me and my coach, Steve Lewis, had a thing where he couldn't come up with a workout that I couldn't complete," said McRae. "He just fueled me by saying that if I can get through the workouts then the meets will be a cakewalk. The first couple times it was hard and I would get winded. But after doing it over and over again I got comfortable and better. I just had so much competitive fire that I refused to lose whether it was at practice or meets."
In 1987, McRae's collegiate success warranted an invitation to the Pan-American Games. At that time, Carl Lewis was the world's fastest man. McRae had met him earlier that year. In preparation for the games, one specific person fueled him to train harder than he ever had before.
"I got motivated for the Pan-American Games meet was by running the double in nationals beforehand," said McRae. "I wasn't mentally prepared to run the 100-meters and 200-meters. I ended up taking second to a guy in the 100-meters. I felt as though if I would have just ran the 100, then I would've won it. The Pan-Am games was a week later and that same guy was in it. So I focused on being the best I could possibly be and focused on beating him head to head. I felt as though I was the number one collegiate in the 100-meters."
Hundreds of meets, thousands of hours of training and two Pan-American gold medals later, Lee McRae retired with one of the most accomplished athletic careers in Pitt history. He still holds the record for the 50, 55, 60 meters and 300 yards indoor and 100, 200 meter outdoor at Pitt. After it all, being inducted into the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame may leave the biggest mark on him.
"You have to go back and look at the athletes that paved the way for me," said McRae. "To be considered right along with the greats then it's a great honor for me because those are the people that fueled me to be the best I could be. The University of Pittsburgh is just rich with athletics. Me being in that group is a great honor for me."
2019 PITT HALL OF FAME
The 2019 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class was unveiled June 13, 2019 by Pitt's Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. The 12-member group is composed of All-Pros, All-Americans and legendary all-time greats.
The 2019 class will receive induction at the Pitt Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Petersen Events Center. On Saturday, Sept. 21, the inductees will be introduced at Heinz Field when the Panthers host UCF. For Hall of Fame Dinner ticket information, contact Executive Director for Signature Events and Donor Experience Allison Rubin by phone (412-648-0345) or email (arubin@athletics.pitt.edu).
For more information of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame, visit pittsburghpanthers.com/halloffame.
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"They can take the medals but they can't take the joy that I felt on the podium receiving them," said McRae.
That head-down, intrepid mentality comes from the days McRae trained as a kid. Born and raised in Pembroke, North Carolina, McRae grew up obsessed with athletics. There was nothing he wouldn't try.
"It didn't matter what it was, I just wanted to compete," said McRae. "So when I got to the age of nine or 10 I started competing in sports against kids who were older than me. So I got baptized real quick. That fueled the fire in me to work harder."
In 1981, McRae had excelled as a tailback for his high school, West Robeson. He rushed for over 1,500 yards in only seven games. Surprisingly, McRae enjoyed baseball the most of any of the sports that he played. Interestingly enough, his inability to crack the starting lineup on the baseball diamond led to his involvement in high school track and field.
"The guy that was playing shortstop was older than me and he was more suitable to play that position," said McRae. "I wasn't too comfortable with the coach putting me in the outfield because I thought I was good enough to play in the infield. So it got to the point where I just lost interest in baseball. I didn't want to just go home after school, so I asked the track coach if I could go out for the team."
In high school, McRae was pushed to his limits and responded impressively. His childhood friends were considerably older than him. They'd go to the local university track and train. McRae would tag along, train with them and ended up gaining the respect of his friends.
"They were like 'wow this guy is good'," said McRae. "It was a small college in my hometown called Pembroke State University. When I played against guys my age I was always a notch or two above them."
As a two-sport athlete, McRae became known as the exceptional athlete in town.
"I ended up placing fourth as a freshman in high school," said McRae. "The assistant football coach called his friend who ran the club youth track and field program. It came to the point where I started competing for the track club and they asked me to stay up in Durham over the summers. Then I would go back home to play football. I won states and set the 100-meter state record."
When it became time to choose a college to attend, McRae had one city in mind from the beginning.
"I have always been a Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan," said McRae. "I really didn't know anything about the University of Pittsburgh until my club coach had a connection to Pitt. I was always a Tony Dorsett fan. I went up there and they brought me through the tunnels at night. That's what sold it for me."
Coming into Pitt, McRae had a decision to make immediately. He wanted to play both football and run track for the Panthers. Unfortunately, the backfield in Oakland was stacked. Coaches told McRae that he needed to redshirt and gain about 30 pounds.
"I didn't want to do that," said McRae. "So I said I'll just run track and field. I just wanted to compete and win."
Winning is what McRae was best at. He won four NCAA titles at Pitt and is a seven time first-team All-American. On top of that, he won three consecutive NCAA indoor national championships (1986-88) in the 55-meters and also won the 1986 NCAA outdoor national championship in the 100-meters. He was a four-time indoor All-American in the 55-meters and three-time outdoor All-American (twice in the 100-meters and once in the 200-meters).
"Me and my coach, Steve Lewis, had a thing where he couldn't come up with a workout that I couldn't complete," said McRae. "He just fueled me by saying that if I can get through the workouts then the meets will be a cakewalk. The first couple times it was hard and I would get winded. But after doing it over and over again I got comfortable and better. I just had so much competitive fire that I refused to lose whether it was at practice or meets."
In 1987, McRae's collegiate success warranted an invitation to the Pan-American Games. At that time, Carl Lewis was the world's fastest man. McRae had met him earlier that year. In preparation for the games, one specific person fueled him to train harder than he ever had before.
"I got motivated for the Pan-American Games meet was by running the double in nationals beforehand," said McRae. "I wasn't mentally prepared to run the 100-meters and 200-meters. I ended up taking second to a guy in the 100-meters. I felt as though if I would have just ran the 100, then I would've won it. The Pan-Am games was a week later and that same guy was in it. So I focused on being the best I could possibly be and focused on beating him head to head. I felt as though I was the number one collegiate in the 100-meters."
Hundreds of meets, thousands of hours of training and two Pan-American gold medals later, Lee McRae retired with one of the most accomplished athletic careers in Pitt history. He still holds the record for the 50, 55, 60 meters and 300 yards indoor and 100, 200 meter outdoor at Pitt. After it all, being inducted into the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame may leave the biggest mark on him.
"You have to go back and look at the athletes that paved the way for me," said McRae. "To be considered right along with the greats then it's a great honor for me because those are the people that fueled me to be the best I could be. The University of Pittsburgh is just rich with athletics. Me being in that group is a great honor for me."
2019 PITT HALL OF FAME
The 2019 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class was unveiled June 13, 2019 by Pitt's Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. The 12-member group is composed of All-Pros, All-Americans and legendary all-time greats.
The 2019 class will receive induction at the Pitt Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Petersen Events Center. On Saturday, Sept. 21, the inductees will be introduced at Heinz Field when the Panthers host UCF. For Hall of Fame Dinner ticket information, contact Executive Director for Signature Events and Donor Experience Allison Rubin by phone (412-648-0345) or email (arubin@athletics.pitt.edu).
For more information of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame, visit pittsburghpanthers.com/halloffame.
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