Paul Cummings
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
September 5, 1953 Tempe, Arizona |
| Died | September 17, 2001 (aged 48) Lehi, Utah |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track, Long-distance running |
| Event(s) | 1500 meters, mile, 2-mile, 5000 meters, 10,000 meters, Half-marathon, marathon |
| College team | BYU |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) |
1500 meters: 3:37.6 Mile: 3:56.4 5000 meters: 13:19.62 10,000 meters: 27:43.7 Half Marathon: 1:01:32 Marathon: 2:11:31 |
Paul Richard Cummings (5 September 1953 – 17 September 2001) was a world-class middle and long distance runner who ran competitively from the 1,500 meters to the marathon, breaking several American records and one world record. His ability to have a middle distance runner's kick and also have the stamina to compete in distances up to the marathon place him as one of the most versatile American track and road racers in history.
Paul Cummings was born in Tempe, Arizona but his family moved to Santa Maria, California when he was 11 years old. Cummings was the third of thirteen children and had ten sisters. Cummings did not always see running as his strength. He played basketball in junior high, and wanted to continue in high school, but failed to make the team. However, when he came in first in his Physical Education class in the mile run, a new opportunity opened up for him; he was asked to join the track team at Ernest Righetti High School, and by his senior year was running the mile in 4:10, the second best time in California, seventh best in the country. Cummings was recruited by several top universities and chose to attend Brigham Young University.
Cummings was named All-American five years in a row while running on the Brigham Young University Track and Cross Country teams. However, after his Freshman year, he was diagnosed with an extra bone in his foot and in order to run again, would have to undergo surgery to remove the bone. Cummings recovered, and by his junior year became the NCAA champion in the mile run. Cummings was the first runner from the Intermountain West to break the Four-minute mile barrier. His personal best for the mile, 3:56.4, was run at his birthplace, Tempe, Arizona on March 16, 1974.
Cummings was a Latter-day Saint. He wanted to serve a two-year LDS mission, but since LDS Missions are served voluntarily and missionaries serve without compensation, he was unable to raise the required funds. After meeting with LDS Church President Spencer W. Kimball, Paul was encouraged to stay in school on an athletic scholarship, earn his degree, and continue to run and compete, sharing his beliefs with those he met through running. Paul did this well and shared his beliefs with many athletes and friends.
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