The breakout star of the 2019 USATF Indoor National Championships was Athing Mu.
The 16-year-old won the women’s 600 meters in 1:23.57, a new American Record.
MU
I’m super shocked. At first when I was taking a picture next to the timing, I thought it was just another high school record. I looked back and it said ‘AR’ and I also didn’t see the time, 1:23, so I was just like oh my gosh, it’s crazy. It literally brought me to tears.
The mark was just shy of Olga Kotlyarova’s 1:23.44, set in 2004.
Her coach was impressed with the record-breaking effort.
King Jennings, HEAD COACH
- Yes, the time surprised me. I thought it would take about 2:25, maybe 24.9, somewhere around there it would take to win it. But the 23 just blew my mind.
- She almost got the world record.
- I know.
She has been competing on a national level most of her life.
Mu received flak from classmates for picking the Trenton Track Club over her high school team.
The teen says she feels more comfortable racing against professionals.
MU
I think racing pros is pretty great. They run the same times as I run and I know they do have a push as well, so it kind of just pushes me through the whole race and makes sure that I run with my fullest potential rather than hold back some as if I were running by myself or with high school.
Competitors such as Raevyn Rogers think Mu has a bright future on the track.
ROGERS
I told her she earned it. She had a great year. The sport needs this, needs younger people stepping up and challenging, you know, older people. I mean, I’m not that much older but it’s always nice to have this competition in indoors because so many people think that, you know, indoors is just what it is compared to outdoors, but there she is. Indoors has been really good.
Off the track, she’s just like any other teen.
MU
I think I’m pretty 16, I might think that I’m actually like 14 in my mind because I’m pretty childish and stuff.
Mu loves pugs and hopes to get one someday.
She has worn her braces for nearly a year.
MU
They say I’m almost done but I don’t believe it.
She hopes to compete in this summer’s outdoor national championships.
Mu first has to check with her family’s schedule to see if she can go.
The 16-year-old won the women’s 600 meters in 1:23.57, a new American Record.
MU
I’m super shocked. At first when I was taking a picture next to the timing, I thought it was just another high school record. I looked back and it said ‘AR’ and I also didn’t see the time, 1:23, so I was just like oh my gosh, it’s crazy. It literally brought me to tears.
The mark was just shy of Olga Kotlyarova’s 1:23.44, set in 2004.
Her coach was impressed with the record-breaking effort.
King Jennings, HEAD COACH
- Yes, the time surprised me. I thought it would take about 2:25, maybe 24.9, somewhere around there it would take to win it. But the 23 just blew my mind.
- She almost got the world record.
- I know.
She has been competing on a national level most of her life.
Mu received flak from classmates for picking the Trenton Track Club over her high school team.
The teen says she feels more comfortable racing against professionals.
MU
I think racing pros is pretty great. They run the same times as I run and I know they do have a push as well, so it kind of just pushes me through the whole race and makes sure that I run with my fullest potential rather than hold back some as if I were running by myself or with high school.
Competitors such as Raevyn Rogers think Mu has a bright future on the track.
ROGERS
I told her she earned it. She had a great year. The sport needs this, needs younger people stepping up and challenging, you know, older people. I mean, I’m not that much older but it’s always nice to have this competition in indoors because so many people think that, you know, indoors is just what it is compared to outdoors, but there she is. Indoors has been really good.
Off the track, she’s just like any other teen.
MU
I think I’m pretty 16, I might think that I’m actually like 14 in my mind because I’m pretty childish and stuff.
Mu loves pugs and hopes to get one someday.
She has worn her braces for nearly a year.
MU
They say I’m almost done but I don’t believe it.
She hopes to compete in this summer’s outdoor national championships.
Mu first has to check with her family’s schedule to see if she can go.
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