Local Man Breaks Jump Record

Renaissance Man is 6-time U.S. Champion

By Jason Hornick Send Mail to Writer, Observer Staff Writer

May 02, 2003

The World Masters champion for the last two years and six-time USA Champion, McBarnette, 45, hit the 6 feet 4 inches mark to break the world record.

"It's a lot of fun," said McBarnette. "I've always competed because of the fun of competition. Whether I'm competing against 20-year-olds or 40-year-olds, it is always a challenge to try and do my very best."

McBarnette, who graduated from Princeton University and New York University Law School, has served as a legal counsel for a U.S. Senate committee, a judge advocate attorney for the U.S. Army, and a senior counsel for Fannie Mae. He is currently president of Summit Connection, a Sterling company that deals in real estate management and corporate training and consulting. He also has an acting career. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, McBarnette has been in television shows including "West Wing" and "Homicide." He has also been in movies, most recently "Head of State," Chris Rock's new film, and "The Recruit," staring Al Pacino. And between that he teaches at George Washington University and Northern Virginia Community College and is a volunteer fund raiser for Charlie's Place, a homeless service center in Washington, D.C.

McBarnette began his track and field interest in college. As a freshman on Princeton's football team, he decided to participate in track to keep in shape. When he found his niche, McBarnette left football after his sophomore year to persue track and field as his sole sport. At Princeton, he was coached by former U.S. Olympic Team Coach Larry Ellis and 1976 Olympian Fred Samara.
"It's quite a thrill to execute the technique the way it is supposed to be done," said McBarnette about the high jump. "And it is something that is very hard to do perfectly. When you hit the perfection, it's very exciting."

McBarnette trains every other day with a varying exercise regiment. He uses weightlifting, bounding exercises, speed work, uphill runs, distance work and, of course, the actual high jump to keep his competative edge. "I find that I am enjoying the health benifits for 20 years in a way that is unparallel compared to other people I know," said McBarnette. "It is a form of being able to stay young and preserve your body by having a goal to shoot for. "The most important thing about competion is it's not who you compete against, it is about doing your best."

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