ALAMOSA – The McFarland High School cross country team became a legend in 1987 after winning the California State Meet. Coached by Jim White, the team championship was chronicled in the 2015 Disney movie “McFarland USA.”
Adams State University is hosting a lecture by Thomas Valles, the top runner of the 1987 McFarland team, at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, in Richardson Hall Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
According to mcfarlandusa.biz, Valles shares the message of perseverance, dedication and success to thousands of students, business owners and crowds across the nation. He inspires and connects with many sharing the message, “champions can come from anywhere;” and the vision that anything is possible as it is “all in the attitude.”
Adams State will host a free screening of the movie, “McFarland USA,” at dusk on Sunday, Sept. 15, on the lawn outside the Adams State Theatre Building. According to Disney.movies.com, the movie, “McFarland USA,” was inspired by a true story about novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s farm-rich Central Valley, as the team give their all to build a cross country team under the direction of Coach Jim White, a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school.
Valles received a college degree and served in the US Coast Guard and started a career with the California Department of Corrections before returning to McFarland to raise a family and help coach the McFarland girls cross country team.
