Patrick McGregor is The Birmingham News’ boys track and field athlete of the year

Patrick McGregor remembers he first became fascinated with running in grade school.

“Who can get from here to there the quickest in recess,” said the 2009 Hoover High School graduate. “Everyone wants to know who’s the fastest.”

The ultra-competitive McGregor covered the ground the quickest in most cases, which sparked him to a championship-filled cross country and track and field career during his four years at Hoover.

McGregor graduated in May as one of the most celebrated track athletes in school history after he won three events and led the Bucs to their first boys track and field title since 2005. McGregor’s efforts earned him The Birmingham News’ metro boys track and field athlete of the year.

Hoover track and field coach Devon Hind called McGregor “a national athlete” and said his presence will be missed in the program.

“He’s one of the premier runners we’ve ever had,” Hind said.

McGregor, who was named the Gatorade cross country athlete of the year in Alabama following both his junior and senior seasons, wrapped up his career by winning the 800-meter run, 1600-meter run and 3200-meter run in the Class 6A championship last month. He was also part of the Bucs’ 3200-meter relay team, which finished second.

McGregor set a personal record of 4:18.47 in the 1600-meter run at the state meet.

While he said the individual honors and team championships are nice, he’ll remember most the bonds he developed with teammates.

“I’ve learned a lot in high school,” McGregor said. “Things that are bigger than a time or a record or a championship. I’ll remember that we came together as a team this year, not that we won a championship.”

McGregor said his desire played a big part in his running success.

“I might have had a faster time, but if someone else gave it his all and I didn’t, he accomplished more than I did,” McGregor said. “My goal is to push myself to my potential. The day you forget why you started running is the day you stop running fast.”

Hind said McGregor’s most memorable accomplishment is his mark of just under 4 minutes and 10 seconds in the one-mile run, which is second to former Grissom standout and Alabama Sports Hall of Famer Steve Bolt in state history.

“You don’t replace Pat McGregors because they don’t come around too often,” Hind said. “He has the second fastest time in the one-mile in Alabama history to a guy they just put in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.”

McGregor will continue his running career this fall at the University of Kentucky, where he will run both cross country and track and field. McGregor said running has helped him reach his potential both on and off the track.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” McGregor said. “It’s not a sport where you can rely on talent alone. What you put in is what you get out of it. The discipline I’ve learned has helped me in other areas of my life.”