August 29, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Olympian and Trenton Central High School Graduate Athing Mu, was honored this afternoon with a large parade though the streets of Trenton. The parade started at Trenton Central High School with Governor Phil Murphy meeting with Mu and others. The parade proceeded down Hamilton Avenue, made a right on South Clinton Avenue and then a left on East State Street and ending at City Hall.
Governor Phil Murphy, Mayor W. Reed Gusciora, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli, Trenton Council President Kathy McBride, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Hope Grant, Coach Al Jennings, Coach Bernice Mitchell and many others were in attendance.
During the Tokyo Olympics, Mu claimed the first 800-meter gold medal for an American woman in that event since 1968 and broke a U.S. record at the same time. She then went on to help the U.S. team win another gold-medal in the 4×400-meter relay.
Mu was born in Trenton and is a graduate of Trenton Central High School. She ran for the Trenton Track Club. Mu was named the 2020 National High School Indoor Athlete of the Year by Track & Field News.
She now attends Texas A&M, where she holds the U-20 Indoor 400-meter NCAA record of 49:57 and 800-meter of 1:57:73. On June 27, Mu won her first U.S. outdoors title in the final 200 meters of the 800-meter setting a world-leading record and securing the second-fastest time in American history with 1:56:07.
Most recently, on Aug. 21, 2021, at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, Athing Mu won the 800-meter event with a time of 1:55.04, besting her own American record she had set at the Olympic Games
