The University of Akron Athletics
Murphy advances to 800 meter finals at USATF Outdoor Championships
June 27 | Track & Field
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LIVE STATS | USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP | USATF JUNIOR OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP
EUGENE, Ore. - On the strength of a school-record time of 1:45.78, Akron sophomore Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio) earned a spot in the men's 800 meters finals at the USATF Track and Field Championship on Friday, June 26, at historic Hayward Field.
Murphy turned in the second-best time in his heat and the seventh-fastest mark overall to move into the eight-runner field that will vie on Sunday, June 28, at 4:57 p.m. ET, for three berths for the United States to the IAAF World Championships August 22-30 in Beijing, China. Murphy is one of only two collegians in the championship race joining Brigham Young's Shaquille Walker.
"Clayton is turning into not only one of the better collegiate middle distance runners, but also one of the better ones in the whole country including the professional ranks," Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "We will be cheering for him as he wears the Akron gold to make the world team."
A day earlier, he posted the top time in the quarterfinal round crossing the line in a then personal-best time of 1:46.35.
Live coverage of the USATF Outdoor Championship will air on NBC from 4-6 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 28.
Additionally on Friday, freshman Jamir Coleman (Lima, Ohio) placed fifth in the long jump at the USATF Junior Track and Field Championship with a mark of 24-0.25 (7.32m).
Competing on Saturday, June 27, in the discus in the USATF Junior Championship will be freshman Maurice Harris (Toledo, Ohio) at 1:15 p.m. ET.
