Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame
McLean, Thomas E.
Thomas E. McLean
- Induction:
- 1983
- Class:
- 1978
Sports: Track and Field, Basketball
Tom McLean is, most probably, Bucknell's greatest track & field athlete ever, and is the only Bucknell athlete ever to win an individual NCAA University Division national championship, taking the 800-meter title in 1976. In addition to the All-America honors earned by winning that national title, McLean was also an All-American indoors in 1976 (3rd in the 4x800 relay) and twice in 1977 (4th in the indoor 880 and 4th in the outdoor 800), and in 1975 he finished third in the 880 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Provo, Utah. He received All-East recognition on several occasions, most notably after winning the IC4A outdoor 800-meter championship in a meet-record 1:45.34, and repeating as champion in 1977. McLean won the 880-yard run in the Middle Atlantic Conference championship in 1974 and won three straight 880 titles in the East Coast Conference beginning in 1975, leading Bucknell to team championships in all three years. He was also on the winning 4x400-yard relay team in 1975-77. McLean was fifth in the 800-meter run at the 1975 Pan American Games, was a finalist in the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials, and was ranked fifth in the world in the 800-meter run in 1977. In basketball, McLean lettered as a freshman and sophomore while playing for Coach Jim Valvano. He was a co-captain of the 1974-75 team that finished 14-12. He later served as Executive Director of the Jesse Owens Foundation and Executive Director of Programs with USA Track & Field for 11 years.Â
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 1983)
Tom McLean is, most probably, Bucknell's greatest track & field athlete ever, and is the only Bucknell athlete ever to win an individual NCAA University Division national championship, taking the 800-meter title in 1976. In addition to the All-America honors earned by winning that national title, McLean was also an All-American indoors in 1976 (3rd in the 4x800 relay) and twice in 1977 (4th in the indoor 880 and 4th in the outdoor 800), and in 1975 he finished third in the 880 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Provo, Utah. He received All-East recognition on several occasions, most notably after winning the IC4A outdoor 800-meter championship in a meet-record 1:45.34, and repeating as champion in 1977. McLean won the 880-yard run in the Middle Atlantic Conference championship in 1974 and won three straight 880 titles in the East Coast Conference beginning in 1975, leading Bucknell to team championships in all three years. He was also on the winning 4x400-yard relay team in 1975-77. McLean was fifth in the 800-meter run at the 1975 Pan American Games, was a finalist in the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials, and was ranked fifth in the world in the 800-meter run in 1977. In basketball, McLean lettered as a freshman and sophomore while playing for Coach Jim Valvano. He was a co-captain of the 1974-75 team that finished 14-12. He later served as Executive Director of the Jesse Owens Foundation and Executive Director of Programs with USA Track & Field for 11 years.Â
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 1983)
Michigan State at Bucknell Field Hockey Highlights 9-28-2025
Sunday, September 28
Michigan State at Bucknell Field Hockey Highlights 9-28-2025
Sunday, September 28
Saint Francis at Bucknell Football Highlights 9-27-2025
Sunday, September 28
Post Game Interview vs. SFU
Sunday, September 28
