Don Clary

ATHLETE – East Anchorage High School

Don Clary symbolizes running in the State of Alaska. He was a cross-country and track and field standout at East Anchorage High School. He graduated in 1975. Don won the Cross-Country State Title in his junior and senior year. During his running career he was best known for his remarkable 2-mile and 3200-meter runs. He set a state record in the 2- mile that stands today. It is a record that few have been able to challenge. His time of 9:04.4 is only eight seconds off the current national high school best. What makes the time more remarkable is that he set it after he set a new State record in the mile earlier in the day.

After high school, Don attended the University of Oregon on a running scholarship where he became an outstanding collegiate runner. He was an All- American three times and the NCAA Cross-Country Champion in 1977. He continued to train after College and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. He reached the 5,000-meter semifinals in the summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

After he retired from his running career, he returned to Anchorage. Currently, he is a Consumer Loan Officer and Vice President for First National Bank Alaska and often represents the bank at track events to help distribute medals to the runners of today.