CAPE MAY, N.J. — Nearly 150 recruits, members of TRACEN Cape May staff, and Commander Officer CAPT Douglas Wisniewski gathered around the track to watch Seaman Recruit Paul McMullen shatter the boot camp record for the mile and half run Dec. 4.

The old record, which was set in early 2000, stood at 7 minutes, 26 seconds.  In spite of the bitter cold and gusty winds, McMullen shattered that record by 17 seconds in setting a new record of 7 minutes, 9.16 seconds.  It was an event that he had been training for daily throughout boot camp.  In addition to the already strenuous boot camp schedule, McMullen ran every evening before taps and every morning before reveille, as well as kept to a strict diet in order to keep himself in top shape.

SR Paul McMullen during his record-setting 1.5-mile run at TRACEN Cape May Dec. 4.  Photo by SA J.M. “Millie” Preciado

Recruits cheer on SR Paul McMullen during his record-setting 1.5-mile run at TRACEN Cape May Dec. 4.  Photo by SA J.M. “Millie” Preciado

His success before enlisting in the Coast Guard includes the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he finished ninth in the semifinals.  He was ranked number one in the U.S. in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2001, and has been named First Team All-American eight times.  He has competed successfully at several national championships for both indoor and outdoor track in the 1500 meters.

McMullen graduated from boot camp Dec. 13 and says his time there helped him develop a new sense of pride and determination, which he accredits to lead Company Commander HSC Eugene Mason and EMC Apple Heath, among others.  Heath feels honored to have met and to have impacted such a determined individual.