Duane McDaniel was known statewide for his track exploits from 1952-55. A long distance runner, he won the State Class B mile championship for the first time in 1953 as a sophomore and repeated as champion in 1954 and took second in the 880 at the same meet. Over his 4-year high school track season he scored 193 1/4 points which included an undefeated 1954 season in the mile run. In 1955 he set a new National Schools for the Deaf mile record of 4:38.6 which stood for several years.
A three-sport athlete, McDaniel also starred in football and basketball.