Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2004
- Class:
- 1974
McMullen was a versatile runner and inspirational figure who brought national recognition to the MU distance teams. He excelled at any distance, ranging from the half-mile all the way to the marathon and was a three-time NCAA all-American, earning the award once each in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. He placed 13th at the 1972 NCAA Cross Country Championships, despite losing a shoe early in the rain-soaked race. In the spring of 1973, he became the first MU athlete to break four minutes in the mile, which he accomplished twice that year. In 1974, he anchored the men’s distance medley relay team which won a national championship at the 1974 NCAA Indoor Championships. He set the MU school record in the outdoor 1,500-meter run with his 3:41.90 time at the 1973 NCAA Outdoor Championships. He mentored his younger brother, Tim, who won the Big Eight cross country title in 1975. After his collegiate career, Charlie moved into running marathons, and after a two-year layoff, he got back into shape and won the 1978 Drake Relays marathon, with a time of 2:15:19. According to an archivist at Runners’ World magazine, he was the first of only 15 Americans who have broken both four minutes in the mile and 2:16 in the marathon. He and his wife, Nancy, worked as special education teachers in Rochester, New York, where he earned a lifetime achievement award for his efforts with the Special Olympics program. Until being stricken with cancer, he remained active in running, and consistently remained near the top of the national Masters rankings for his age group. At 41, he set a world record for the 40-44 age group with a time of 9:12.5 in the 2-mile run.
