 While at Western, McFarlane was awarded the John Davies Trophy as Canada's top track athlete of 1947, and he carried the flag for Canada at the 1948 Summer Olympics, at which he competed in the 400-meter dash and relay.His brother Don McFarlane was also on the relay team with him.At the same time, McFarlane led the Western Ontario Mustangs football team that won the Yates Cup in 1946, 1947, 1949, and 1950.