Blue Jay of the Month: Brady Mullen
State champ, record holder, Harvard commit: Brady Mullen is a legend on and off the track
Senior Brady Mullen is a star cross country runner who will be attending Harvard University in the fall. Brady’s success as an athlete and as a student is a testament to his hard work and dedication. The Blue Jay spoke with Brady about his time at Jesuit and his plans for the future.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Jesuit?
A: I chose to come to Jesuit because of the type of people that were already here. People think of you differently when you say you’re a Jesuit grad. I wanted to challenge myself and get to the next level with the most amount of experience under pressure.
Q: Are there any favorite memories from your time here?
A: Back when I was a freshman and I was just starting to be proud of the school, I can remember that we were winning football games, and the whole campus had a fire about it that hit different when you were a freshman.
Q: What are the details of your Harvard offer?
A: I have received help from the Harvard Track and Field and Cross Country staff toward the admissions department to allow my application to run smoothly through to admittance. The Ivies don’t give out scholarships for anything unfortunately, but the financial aid system is very, very generous, so it works out. I will be running Track and Field in the spring and Cross Country in the fall for Harvard, who had two Olympians on their distance team in this past Paris Olympics still on their roster.
“I think running and all the training that goes with it helps you to realize that challenges and stress can enhance your performance over time, which allows you to take pressure off the real hard situations in life.”
Q: Cross Country is hoping for their fourth straight state title. How has being a part of and leading such a successful team impacted you?
A: When I was younger, the competitiveness of the team around me pushed me so much. I was lucky to have those role models in my early years, but now, I have to be the role model. I try to give as much advice and direction as I can, from mechanical pieces of running to just how to think about life. Through my leadership of this team, I have grown confident in myself and in my responsibility toward others.
Q: Do you participate in any other clubs or activities at Jesuit?
A: I have participated as a Big Brother, in Finance Club, the Jesuit Medical Society, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and try to ball out on occasion in intramurals.
Q: Do you have a specific major or career in mind?
A: The plan is a concentration in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Finance.
Q: What does it take to perform at such a high level?
A: I think running and all the training that goes with it helps you to realize that challenges and stress can enhance your performance over time, which allows you to take pressure off the real hard situations in life. Learning how to switch your mind to enjoy the suck and every mishap that comes along and allowing life to unfold has been a huge help.
The Blue Jay thanks Brady for taking the time to get an inside look into his mindset and training. Just last year Brady broke the 28 year old 3200m record at the LHSAA State Track and Field meet with a time of 8:48. Mullen believes that his time will only continue to fall as he trains harder into his senior season.
Brady has certainly set the bar high, but he is looking to break even more records this year. For a list of his top times, check out the chart below to get a glimpse of Brady’s accomplishments.