COLLEGIATE RECORD: Texas A&M's Mu Makes 800-Meter History

Athing Mu went out at record pace and stayed there until the job was done.

Mu destroyed the World U20 record and the collegiate indoor record in the 800 on Saturday at the SEC Indoor Championships, turning in an otherworldly 1:58.40 that shaved more than two seconds off the previous all-time collegiate best set by Jazmine Fray back in 2017.

Mu got out quickly, hitting 200 meters in 28.65 and 400 meters at 57.96. When she made her third lap in 29.64 to put her overall time at 1:27.60, the waiting game was on. Those inside the Randal Tyson Track Center didn’t have to wait long, as she closed in 30.81 for the record.

This was also the first time that a collegian had gone sub-1:59.00 over 800 meters in a collegiate season, indoors or outdoors. Raevyn Rogers held the previous “absolute” collegiate record at 1:59.10 from 2017.