You know that feeling when you're scrolling through Disney+ or cable and you see Kevin Costner's face on a thumbnail, usually wearing a weather-beaten cap or a whistle? You probably think, "Oh, another sports movie." But McFarland, USA is kinda different. It isn't just a Kevin Costner cross country running movie; it’s a time capsule of a specific 1987 California reality that most of us never see.
Honestly, it’s one of those films that sneaks up on you.
What Really Happened in McFarland?
The movie follows Jim White (Costner), a coach with a bit of a temper problem who ends up in a dusty, agricultural town in California's Central Valley. It’s 1987. The town is McFarland. It’s poor. It’s predominantly Latino. And for White—or "Blanco," as the kids eventually call him—it feels like the end of the line for his career.
He notices something, though. His students aren't just walking to school; they’re hauling through almond orchards and fields, covering miles under a sun that would melt most people. They aren't running for "cardio." They’re running because they have to work the fields as "pickers" before the school bell even rings.
The Real Jim White and the Team
In real life, Jim White was a life science teacher who saw a raw, untapped endurance in these kids. He didn't just show up and magically make them fast. They were already fast. He just gave them a reason to keep going when the race usually ended at the edge of the field.
The movie narrows the team down to seven core runners:
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- Thomas Valles: The lead runner with a heavy home life.
- The Diaz Brothers: David, Damacio, and Danny (the legendary "anchor" who wasn't actually as chubby as the movie made him out to be).
- Victor Puentes, Jose Cardenas, and Robbie Zamarripa.
Some people think Hollywood fluffed the numbers, but the McFarland High School cross country team really did go on to win nine state championships. That’s not a typo. Nine.
Why This Movie Isn't Your Average Sports Flick
Most sports movies are about the "big game." This one is about the "big life."
One of the most authentic parts of the film—and something Jim White has talked about in interviews—is the struggle between sport and survival. In one scene, White tries to convince the parents to let their sons run. The parents aren't being mean; they’re being practical. A kid at a cross country meet is a kid not earning money to put food on the table.
Costner plays White with this sort of weary humility. He isn't the "white savior" trope people sometimes accuse these movies of being. He's a guy who realized he was the one who needed saving, and he found it in a community that valued family above everything else.
The "Almond Hill" Training
You remember those weird, white-covered hills the team runs up in the movie?
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Those are actually massive piles of almond hulls. McFarland is the "Heartbeat of Agriculture," and those hulls are a staple of the landscape. Training on them is brutal. It’s like running on shifting sand that gets in your lungs and burns your calves.
Fact vs. Fiction: What the Movie Changed
Hollywood always tweaks things. It’s basically a law.
- The Timeline: Jim White actually started the team in 1980, not 1987. By the time they won that first state title shown in the movie, he’d been building the program for years.
- The Family: In the movie, White has two daughters. In real life, he has three.
- Danny Diaz: The movie portrays Danny as the "slow" one who carries the weight. In reality, Danny was a solid runner, and his brother Damacio has joked that Hollywood did Danny dirty by making him look out of shape.
- The Incidents: That scene where the family goes to a taco shop and feels out of place? That’s a bit of a dramatization to show the "fish out of water" vibe.
The Lasting Impact on the Sport
Cross country is usually seen as a "country club" sport. It’s often dominated by schools with fancy tracks and parents who can buy $200 carbon-plated shoes.
McFarland, USA flipped that script.
It showed that elite endurance isn't about fancy gear. It’s about "ganas"—desire. The real-life runners from that 1987 team? They didn't just win and disappear. Many of them went to college, came back to McFarland, and became teachers, coaches, and police officers. Thomas Valles became a correctional officer and still coaches youth runners.
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They changed the town’s logo to a silhouette of a runner. That’s the level of impact we’re talking about.
If You’re Planning to Watch (or Re-watch)
If you haven't seen it, keep an eye on the end credits. They show the real people next to the actors who played them. It’s one of the few times a "where are they now" segment actually feels earned.
The movie is currently streaming on Disney+ and available for rent on most platforms like Amazon and Apple TV.
Next Steps for You:
- Check the ending: Watch for the cameo of the real Jim White on his bicycle during the final race sequence.
- Look up the McFarland Track Club: If you're a runner, their story is a massive rabbit hole of inspiration that goes way beyond the 120-minute runtime of the movie.
- Listen to the soundtrack: The song "Juntos (Together)" by Juanes captures the vibe of the Central Valley perfectly.
It’s a solid pick for a Friday night when you need to remember that sometimes, just showing up and refusing to quit is the biggest win you can get.