Furman's Mullin to coach junior track stars again

By Ann Green
Greenville News Staff Writer

Shortly after his Furman runners pack it in for summer, Gene Mullin will change hats and put on the colors of chief administrator and a coach of the USA National Junior Track and Field Team.

Mullin, in his 17th year of coaching the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams at Furman, has been on the coaching staff of national teams several times in the course of his career.

This year, he'll work with the junior team, mostly high school seniors and college freshmen who are among the nation's best track stars under age 20.

"They're pretty high-caliber-type individuals. The biggest thing is keeping them prepared and ready to go to competition," Mullin said.

Those who hit a qualifying standard go to Denton, Texas, on June 23-24 for the national junior championship meet. Usually, the top two from each men's and women's event are picked for the national team.

In July, the team will go to two competitions in Montreal. The world junior championships follow in October in Santiago, Chile.

In the past, a few Furman runners have made it to nationals, Mullin said.

"It's a goal that I want to be on it. Not too many people make it," said Greenville's Travis Gilliam, who as a Southside High sophomore helped his team to a state championship and as a freshman at Furman runs the 300, 400, and 1600 meters.

Gilliam called Mullin a motivator who finds the best in his runners and builds on it. Gilliam said he basically is learning how to run again as he prepares for competition at the college level and noted that Mullin "has crystallized a lot of things as far as my running skills."