Paul McMullen (19 February 1972 – 4 March 2021) was an American

middle-distance runner Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints, ranging from 500 metres up to . The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle-distanc ...

who specialized in the

1500 meters The 1500 metres or 1500-metre run is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Championships in Athletics since 1983. It is equivalent to 1.5 kilometers ...

. Paul was known by some as "the pride of

Cadillac Cadillac Motor Car Division, or simply Cadillac (), is the luxury vehicle division (business), division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Its major markets are the United States, Canada and China; Cadillac models are ...

" after qualifying and competing in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Early life

McMullen was born 19 February 1972, son of Doug and Theresa McMullen. He grew up in

Cadillac, Michigan Cadillac ( ) is a city in and county seat of Wexford County, Michigan, Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,371 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the second most-populated city in the Northe ...

with his brother Phil and sister Sarah. An early physical education teacher noticed his speed and told him he should run track. Years later, when he was a 6-foot-2-inch, 165 pound tight end on his high school's football team, he and a few football teammates joined the track team during the football off-season. By his senior year of high school, McMullen won the Michigan state title in the mile.Runners World: "Paul McMullen, an Olympian and National Mile Champion, Dies at 49"
By Sarah Lorge Butler. Mar 5, 2021. Accessed 13 May 2022.

Running career

McMullen received a small athletic scholarship to

Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University (EMU, EMich, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern) is a public university, public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, it was the fourth normal ...

and ran under legendary EMU coach Bob Parks. McMullen graduated in accounting in 1995 and was well prepared for a running career: as of 2022, he retains EMU's fastest time at 3:38:74 in the 1500 meter run, the second fastest time in the 800 meter run, and stands all-time 32nd of 75 men in the 5000 meter run. Although he had struggled in his early college days, red-shirting his first collegiate year, he became an eight-time

All-American The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

and was inducted into the

Drake Relays The Drake Relays is an outdoor track and field event held in Des Moines, Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa, in Drake Stadium (Drake University), Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University. Billed as ''America's Athletic Classic'', it is regarded as one ...

Hall of Fame in 2000 and into EMU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. McMullen finished tenth at the

1995 World Championships in Athletics The 5th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Ullevi, Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden on 5–13 August 1995. This edition featured 1804 athletes from ...

Gothenburg, Sweden Gothenburg ( ; ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gubernatorial seat of Västra Götaland County, ...

. He won

National Championships A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or competition, contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the be ...

in 1995 (1500 m), 1996 (1500 m) and 1998 (Indoor Mile). He won the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500 m and was a semi-finalist at the Atlanta Summer Olympics the same year, gaining the moniker, "the pride of Cadillac". His personal best 1500 m time was 3:33.89 minutes, achieved in July 2001 in

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo ( ; ; or colloquially ; , ; ) is an official administrative area of Monaco, specifically the Ward (country subdivision), ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally, the name also refers to ...

Monaco Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...

. In 2001, Track and Field News ranked him at number one in the US. McMullen finished tenth at the

2001 World Championships in Athletics The 8th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada between 3 and 12 August 2001 and was the first time the event ...

Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. In 1997, McMullen lost parts of two toes when his foot slipped under a lawnmower he was operating. He returned to the sport in December 1998 and was able to run even faster than before the accident. ''

Runner's World ''Runner's World'' is a global magazine and website for runners of all abilities. It has additionally developed experiential formats, including a digital membership program, called Runner's World+. It is published by Hearst in Easton, Pennsylva ...

'' referred to him, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as "the world's fastest eight-toed miler."

Personal life

McMullen had two children from his first marriage (Jill Stamison), Olivia and David, aged 19 and 14 respectively at the time of his death. McMullen married secondly to his high school girl-friend, Nuria DeSoto Queralto of Spain in December 2011. His wife Nuria of just under ten years gave birth to their first child Catalina on July 5, 2014. Paul is brother to Phil McMullen, a fireman paramedic in the East Bay Area of San Francisco,

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, and former world class decathlete.

Later life

Before his death, McMullen worked as a Life Safety Consultant for EPS Security and competed in masters road cycling events during the summer. He was the founder and Coach of Chariots of Fire youth running club.

Death

Paul McMullen was killed on 4 March 2021 in a skiing accident in Northern Michigan. He was 49 years old.

YouTube links

YouTube: "I Dare You to Run"
By Paul McMullen, edited by Kevin Stinehart. Accessed 13 May 2022.
YouTube: Kevin Sullivan vs. Paul McMullen - Men's 1500m - 1995 NCAA Outdoor Championships
Accessed 13 May 2022.
YouTube: 1996 US Olympic Trials - Men's 1500 Meter Final
Accessed 13 May 2022.
YouTube: Paul McMullen - Lawnmower Accident (1997)
Accessed 13 May 2022.
YouTube: Paul McMullen - Men's Mile - 1998 USA Indoor Championships
Accessed 13 May 2022.
YouTube: Chariots of Fire Hail Mary Part 1 DEC 2020
Accessed 14 May 2022.

References

External links

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Paul McMullen
at

USATF USA Track & Field (USATF) is a United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running, and racewalking (known as the sport of athletics outside the US). The USATF was known between 1979 and 1 ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:McMullen, Paul 1972 births 2021 deaths Skiing deaths American male middle-distance runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Eastern Michigan University alumni Olympic track and field athletes for the United States Sportspeople from Michigan People from Cadillac, Michigan Eastern Michigan Eagles men's track and field athletes Sports deaths in Michigan NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners 20th-century American sportsmen