Eastern Michigan Athletics
E-Club Hall of Fame Member Paul McMullen Passes Away
3/5/2021 1:21:00 PM | Men's XC, Men's Track & Field, E-Club
McMullen was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University E-Club Hall of Famer Paul McMullen passed away in a ski accident in Northern Michigan Thursday, March 4, at the age of 49. McMullen, who was inducted into the E-Club Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003, was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team.
"I am devastated to share the news that EMU Olympian Paul McMullen passed away today from a skiing accident," said EMU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Sue Parks in a social media post. "Paul visited my dad (Bob) last Thursday and I just texted with him this morning. He was like a son to my dad. Paul was such a great guy and I am so sad for his beautiful family. I really have no words."
For a time, McMullen (2-19-1972) was one of America's preeminent middle distance runners. After graduating from Cadillac High School in 1990, he headed to Eastern Michigan University, redshirting his freshman season due to injury but came out swinging in subsequent seasons to become an eight-time NCAA All-American. In addition to his outstanding track stats, in 1994 he finished second in the Central Collegiate Conference and eighth in the Mid-American Conference in cross country.
During his final season in Ypsilanti, McMullen set the indoor mile record with a 3:57.34 time. Additionally, he set the record in the outdoor 1500m run with a blazing 3:38.74. Both remain EMU records to this today.
In 1995, fresh out of college, McMullen won a 1500m title at the 1995 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, clocking 3:43.90. In 1996, McMullen came back and won the Olympic Trials in the 1500m with a 3:43:86 mark. He represented the United States at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and made it to the 1500m semifinals, missing out on the finals despite a time of 3:37.81.
In 1997, McMullen was weeks out from another USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships when he cut off the majority of his right foot's second and third toes in a lawn mowing accident. The fear, of course, was that McMullen would never run again. Instead, he relearned how to run, found ways to compensate for his missing toes, and came back strongly, passing Steve Holman (then America's fastest Miler) in the homestretch at the 1998 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships to win the mile in 3:55.84, his third national title. While McMullen missed out on an Olympic opportunity in 2000, he ultimately ran the fastest times of his career in 2001: a 3:33.89 1500m in Monaco, a 3:54.94 mile in London, and a 1:45.71 800m in Germany.
McMullen was still heavily involved in the sport, operating a west Michigan youth running club called Chariots of Fire, designed to get boys and girls between the ages of 7-12 interested in running.
A 1995 EMU graduate, McMullen was inducted into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003 after earning a spot in the Drake Relays Hall of Fame in 2000.
McMullen is survived by wife Nuria, and three children.
Memorial and funeral information is still pending.
"I am devastated to share the news that EMU Olympian Paul McMullen passed away today from a skiing accident," said EMU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Sue Parks in a social media post. "Paul visited my dad (Bob) last Thursday and I just texted with him this morning. He was like a son to my dad. Paul was such a great guy and I am so sad for his beautiful family. I really have no words."
For a time, McMullen (2-19-1972) was one of America's preeminent middle distance runners. After graduating from Cadillac High School in 1990, he headed to Eastern Michigan University, redshirting his freshman season due to injury but came out swinging in subsequent seasons to become an eight-time NCAA All-American. In addition to his outstanding track stats, in 1994 he finished second in the Central Collegiate Conference and eighth in the Mid-American Conference in cross country.
During his final season in Ypsilanti, McMullen set the indoor mile record with a 3:57.34 time. Additionally, he set the record in the outdoor 1500m run with a blazing 3:38.74. Both remain EMU records to this today.
In 1995, fresh out of college, McMullen won a 1500m title at the 1995 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, clocking 3:43.90. In 1996, McMullen came back and won the Olympic Trials in the 1500m with a 3:43:86 mark. He represented the United States at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and made it to the 1500m semifinals, missing out on the finals despite a time of 3:37.81.
In 1997, McMullen was weeks out from another USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships when he cut off the majority of his right foot's second and third toes in a lawn mowing accident. The fear, of course, was that McMullen would never run again. Instead, he relearned how to run, found ways to compensate for his missing toes, and came back strongly, passing Steve Holman (then America's fastest Miler) in the homestretch at the 1998 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships to win the mile in 3:55.84, his third national title. While McMullen missed out on an Olympic opportunity in 2000, he ultimately ran the fastest times of his career in 2001: a 3:33.89 1500m in Monaco, a 3:54.94 mile in London, and a 1:45.71 800m in Germany.
McMullen was still heavily involved in the sport, operating a west Michigan youth running club called Chariots of Fire, designed to get boys and girls between the ages of 7-12 interested in running.
A 1995 EMU graduate, McMullen was inducted into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003 after earning a spot in the Drake Relays Hall of Fame in 2000.
McMullen is survived by wife Nuria, and three children.
Memorial and funeral information is still pending.
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