Kathy McMillan is a native of Raeford (Hoke County) who set a still-unbeaten national high school long jump record of 22 feet 3 inches in 1976.
She, born on November 7, 1957, in Raeford, North Carolina, is a retired American track and field athlete who specialized in the long jump.
McMillan became famous as a teenager when she set a national high school record in the long jump.
While attending Hoke County High School, she jumped an incredible 22 feet 3 inches (6.78 meters) at the Jack in the Box Invitational in UCLA on June 12, 1976.
This is a record no other high school girl has matched since.
Kathy McMillan’s Legendary Long Jump of 22 Feet 3 Inches Remains The National High School Record!
Kathy’s athletic career soared after her legendary 22 feet 3 inches long jump in 1976.
Just weeks after her record-setting jump, Kathy won the U.S. Olympic Trials and went on to compete in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Over the course of that time, she earned a silver medal in the women’s long jump at just 18 years old.
Additionally, she represented the U.S. in multiple Pan American Games, winning bronze in 1975, gold in 1979 and 1983, and earning a bronze at the IAAF World Cup.
Although she qualified for the 1980 Olympics, she was unable to compete due to the U.S. boycott.
However, she received a Congressional Gold Medal for her achievement.
In 2021, Kathy McMillan was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Though she retired from competitive athletics decades ago, her legacy continues to inspire.
As of 2025, her high school long jump record of 22 feet 3 inches still stands unbeaten.
Despite decades of progress in training and competition, no other high school athlete has matched or surpassed that distance in official records.
In recent days, Kathy has remained active in her hometown of Raeford, North Carolina, where she continues to inspire young athletes.
She’s closely connected to the Kathy McMillan Invitational, an annual track and field meet held at Hoke County High School.
While she keeps a low public profile, her name continues to resonate through community events and sports tributes.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Kathy attended Tennessee State University, where she trained under legendary coach Ed Temple.
- She then joined a powerhouse team that included stars like Chandra Cheeseborough.
