Career Highlights: Four-time NCAA All-American; national champion, Division I All-American; Cross Country All-American; 1975 NCAA III national champion in one-mile (set the national record that still stands today); 1975 NCAA I All-American in one mile (sixth place, the only NCAA I All-American in school history); 1974 NCAA III All-American in one mile (second place); 1974 Cross Country All-American (22nd).
Dr. Scott Barrett is the only NCAA Division I All-American in the prestigious history of North Central College track and field. The NCAA was split into two divisions then, small college and university. Barrett’s standout time in the mile versus smaller schools was good enough to qualify him for the prestigious mile race at the NCAA National Indoor Track and Field Championships, which consisted of the best of the best from both divisions. He clocked a 4:11 in his qualifying heat to advance to the finals, becoming the only small-college competitor to make it. In the final, which was run before a national television audience on ABC-TV’s Wide World of Sports, Barrett finished sixth with a time of 4:15.4.
Barrett also earned three NCAA III All-America honors, including the 1975 NCAA III national champion in the one mile, setting a record that still stands today. He also placed second in the one-mile at the 1974 meet and 22nd at the cross country championships later the same year. At his final College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Cross Country Championships, Barrett crossed the line first in a course-record time of 25:39.
A Naperville native and 1971 graduate of Naperville Central High School, Barrett came to the College after giving up a full athletic scholarship to the University of South Florida. He credited coach Al Carius with reigniting his running career and making the sport fun again. Barrett still enjoys making the team morning runs when visiting the area.
“He was ahead of his time running a 4:04 indoor mile,” Carius said. “In my 40 years, he was one of the most coachable athletes I have ever worked with. Scott was incredibly hungry to be the best he could be. He taught me about performance probably as much as I taught him.”
Barrett’s favorite athletic memory is helping start the winning cross country and track and field programs at North Central, and competing on the 11-lap wooden track at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track Nationals at Cobol Hall in Detroit, Mich. He wondered, “What could I have done with a real track and real shoes?”
“I am proud to be part of be part of the winning tradition at North Central College,” he said, “and I am proud to be included in the Hall of Fame with such tremendous athletes.”
