Trenton sensation Athing Mu sets sight on Tokyo 2020
A popular testimony for mental toughness implores: never let them see you sweat.
For teen superstar track champion Athing Mu, perspiration represents intimidation as success demands training, relentless road work and an accumulation of many miles — all for an approximate 90-second burn in the 600 meters or a few added seconds in the 800 meters.
Athing Mu, in all her lanky, dark brown beauty, epitomizes rock crooner Neil Young’s “it’s better to burn out than it is to rust” as she remains in constant motion, motivated by dreams and visions.
Rain threatened on this day in August as Mu exited her vehicle and stretched for a workout. Then she ran off into Cadwalader Park, a 100-acre Frederick Law Olmsted open-space jewel in Trenton. Mu returned minutes later, rested a moment, then set out again as repetition represented an investment.
Again. She ran off. Returned. Rested. Ran off. Dedication and Mu represent a dovetailed desire that exists in all kinds of weather and temperatures.
Mu stopped finally, mercifully as just watching her workout could tire any star gazer. Make no mistake about her current position in track skies — Mu, just 17, rises on the U.S. track horizon, a short version of Venus de mile-o.
The Trenton Central High School student spent last summer running against stronger competition in senior meets.
“Fifth or sixth (place) in those meets is not too bad. Actually, it’s pretty good when you think about it,” Mu said, understanding that winning is not always paramount. She is not lost in the acclaim or the endless college scholarship offers being made for her mental and physical powers.
“Ever since the beginning, I’ve been running for the fun of it. I never really thought about where running might take me. But since middle school, I realized, ‘Okay, I’m really good at this’ and that it could get me pretty far,” Mu acknowledged.
Al Jennings, a track aficionado for decades, said “far” could mean the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
“Athing has already made it to the Trials, now let’s see if we can get her out of that challenge and onto the U.S. team,” Jennings said. “The whole purpose of her summer season was to put her up against the toughest competition so that she could gain experience. That’s what (Athing) needed if we’re going to take a shot at the Olympic Trials.”
Jennings, who founded the Trenton Track Club more than 46 years ago, has watched Mu since she was five years old, when she followed her brothers to workouts. At nine, Mu won an AAU national championship and it’s been nothing but fun, run and gamely performances since that accomplishment.
Jennings noted that Mu remains an ideal student as she learns about strategy and moves toward natural running, moving without really thinking. The track and field guru called it “natural reaction.”
“When a runner has to actually think about running, then she’s already losing time,” he said.
Jennings said Mu likes to control races, a strategy that forces competitors to react to her movement, pace and track agenda.
“She doesn’t stop for rain, snow, whatever. She just goes out and does her thing. And that takes a lot of dedication,” Jennings, who shares Mu coaching duties with Bernice Mitchell, praised.
Mu became a household name in track circles for the women’s 600 meter final at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships in February 2019 when she delivered an amazing performance.
Attendees watched at the Ocean Breeze Facility in Staten Island, New York, as Mu sizzled to a 1:23.57. The Trenton starlet set a new high school national record, a new American Record, a new U-18 record and a new World Junior record. She left Olga Kotlyarova’s world mark of 1:23.44 as a future goal.
Mu continues training for U.S. Track and Field Olympic trials set for June 2020 in Eugene, Ore., with hopes to make the national team that competes in Tokyo. Jennings said Mu puts in about 50 miles per week.
Mu considers studies in human physiology, a perfect enterprise to match her wonderful gift for running.
“I don’t mind the training. It’s something that I want to do rather than something I have to do,” Mu said. “I just love to run.”
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @ LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian. com.