Honoured Members Database

Chris McCubbins's long sojourn on the track began in 1963 with Oklahoma State University. By 1967 he was ranked first in steeplechase in the NCCA Division 1; the same year his Pan Am run of 8 minutes, 38.2 seconds in Winnipeg vaulted him into the International spotlight.

Shortly after his momentous win at the Europe vs. Americas meet in Montreal, McCubbins raced in Germany and was knocked into a water jump by a German competitor as he and another American led the race. He was out the remainder of the year. In 1968, an Olympic year, he suffered a hairline fracture in his leg. The Enid, Oklahoma native was then drafted and served with the U.S. military, competing in modern pentathlon at the same time.

By the early 1970s, McCubbins had settled in Winnipeg and dominated long distance running at the provincial level, finishing first in virtually every event he competed in right up until 1989, from steeplechase to 20 km competitions.

McCubbins also won the Canadian steeplechase title in 1972, the Canadian Cross Country Championship in 1974 and 1975 and finished first in the 10,000 metres at the Canadian Olympic trials for the 1976 Games in Montreal. But the Olympics were another bad experience, again due to injury. He finished 12th in the heats, barely able to cross the finish line with a groin injury that should have kept him at home. It was the closest he would ever get to an Olympic medal, although he did continue to run and was ranked as high as fourth in the world as a master runner by Runner World Magazine in 1993.

Still, for a six-year period from 1971-77, no runner in Canada could match Chris McCubbins over long distances. In Manitoba, he set records in many different track and road distances in a variety of events over an 18-year period.

Chris McCubbins is also a member of the Manitoba Runners Hall of Fame.