Sub-15:00 Runner Dean Set to Join Flames

Boasting a sterling cross country 5K best time of 14:48.99, 2020 Alabama 5A cross country state champion Woodrow Dean has signed a national letter of intent to attend Liberty University for the 2022-23 academic year.

“Woody Dean is not a kid to be overlooked,” said Liberty Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lance Bingham. “We believe in his potential for the future. He hasn’t had as many races as others to prove himself, but the ones he had, he took full advantage of. We are excited God has led him here and look forward to what he can do on the cross country course and track.”

Woodrow Dean

Distance | Tallassee High School | Tallassee, Ala.

1,600: 4:26.70

5K (XC): 14:48.99

Dean captured a dominant Alabama 5A cross country state title as a junior in 2020, winning the race by 47 seconds. That result was sandwiched by narrow second-place state finishes in 2019 and 2021.

During the 2020 cross country regular season, Dean sped to a time of 14:48.99. That ranked him among the nation’s top 10 high school juniors.

On the track, Dean placed fifth in the 3,200 and seventh in the 1,600 at the 2019 Alabama 5A state meet as a freshman. However, his sophomore season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and his junior campaign was hampered by injuries.