Medalist in pole vault at Illinois high school track & field
state meet (2nd place in 1921B competition).
Set meet record for pole vault at Southern Illinois
Interscholastic Tournament with a vault of 12 feet
(a high school track meet held at McKendree College).
Pole vaulted in days of bamboo poles (stiff - no bend)
and sand landing pits.
McDonald also won numerous academic awards at Carrollton
High including 1st place finishes in declamation, oration,
and extemporaneous speaking competitions with other schools.
He continued to compete in track & field at Washington
University in St. Louis where he was captain of the track
team (and a half back on the football team).
During college, he competed in many major track meets,
including the Drake Relays, often competing against other national
and world class athletes (see photograph below left).
