Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Lynn McElroy arrived on campus at Southern State College from Brinkley High School (AR) where he finished his track and field prep career with school records in the 120 and 180 low hurdles. A recruit of SAU Hall of Famer and Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame inductee George Henry, McElroy was a multi-event athlete for the Muleriders during his four-year career.
 
During his freshman campaign of 1973, McElroy won the individual Long Jump title at the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) Championships with a mark of 22’ 4” to help SSC to a runner-up finish at the meet. The following two years, McElroy’s sophomore and junior seasons, the Muleriders placed third in the AIC meet, with McElroy claiming a pair of top-five finishes in the 1974 AIC Meet (120-yard high hurdles & 440-yard intermediate hurdles).
 
In his final season on the track, McElroy helped lead the Muleriders to what has often been described as an improbable 1976 AIC Championship Title; the program’s fourth as members of the conference.
 
In that championship season, McElroy set a school record in the high hurdles with a time of 14.34. McElroy also collected three top-five finishes at the AIC Championships his senior year as he finished second in the 120-yard hurdles (14.2), second in the 440-yard intermediate hurdles (53.5) and fourth in the Long Jump (22’ 9 ¼”). McElroy’s 440-yard intermediate hurdle performance, coupled with teammate William Hairston’s first-place showing in the event, proved to be the difference for SSC in securing the AIC Championships.
 
For his efforts, McElroy was named an All-AIC performer as well as an NAIA All-America selection after a sixth-place showing (14.56) in the 110 hurdles at the NAIA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Additionally, McElroy was a member of the Southern State 440-yard All-America relay team that finished fourth in the nation at the NAIA National Championships with a time of 41.76.