Murphy Earns NCAA 800-Meter Crown

Saturday, March 12

University of Akron

NCAA Indoor Championships

March 12 | Track & Field

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NCAA INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Akron junior Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio) became the school's seventh individual NCAA Champion capturing the 800-meter title at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, March 12.

A year after registering a third-place performance at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., Murphy became the Zips' first-ever national champion in a running event crossing the line first in a facility-record 1:46.68 and earned first-team United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-America accolades for the third time.

"What a great accomplishment for Clayton and Akron," said Akron head coach Dennis Mitchell. "He ran excellent tactics. It is a big honor to come through in such an anticipated and loaded race. Lee (LaBadie) did a superb job preparing him for this race."

"I was able to stay in position the entire race," Murphy commented. "I felt comfortable upfront following and with 200 to go I had confidence. The last 100 were very tough. It is a great honor to be able to represent Akron and this race will be one I never will forget."

"What a great accomplishment for Clayton and Akron," said Akron head men's cross country and distance coach Lee LaBadie. "He ran excellent tactics. It is a big honor to come through in such an anticipated and loaded race. Lee LaBadie did a superb job preparing him for this race."

Senior Claudia Garcia Jou (Barcelona, Spain) garnered first-team All-America honors for the third time in the women's high jump placing third with a leap of 6-0.50 (1.84m).

A now eight-time All-America honoree, senior Alexis Cooks (Colorado Springs, Colo.) finished ninth in the shot put with a mark of 55-10.25 (17.02m).

After missing all of the 2015 campaign due to injury, senior Alex McCune (Pittsburgh, Pa.) placed 14th in the men's pentathlon with a cumulative score of 3,931.

The Zips' track and field program leads all Akron sports with seven individual national championships to its credit after Murphy's triumph.

Christi Smith became the school's first national champion winning gold in the women's heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2000. Stevi Large was the next track athlete to accomplish the feat as she brought home top honors in the women's hammer throw in 2009. In 2014, Barber captured the indoor pole vault title, while Annika Roloff won the women's outdoor pole vault crown. A year ago, Barber pulled off the double winning both the indoor and outdoor pole vault championships to become a three-time NCAA champion.

In the team competition, Akron placed 20th in the men's field with 20 points, while rating 36th in women's field with five points.

WOMEN'S SATURDAY FINALS:

Shot Put: Alexis Cooks (9th-55-10.25/17.02m); High Jump: Claudia Garcia Jou (3rd-6-0.50/1.84m)

MEN'S SATURDAY FINALS:

800 Meters: Clayton Murphy (1st-1:46.68)

Heptathlon: Alex McCune (14th-3,931); 60 Meters: Alex McCune (11th-7.07); Long Jump: Alex McCune (15th-22-3/6.78m); Shot Put: Alex McCune (8th-45-7.25/13.90m); High Jump: Alex McCune (15th-6-1.25); 60-Meter Hurdles: Alex McCune (7th-8.29); Pole Vault: Alex McCune (NH); 1,000 Meters: Alex McCune (DNF)

WOMEN'S FRIDAY FINALS:

Weight Throw: Alexis Cooks (9th-65-7.50/20.0m)

Pentathlon: Jackie Siefring (10th-4,162); 60-Meter Hurdles: Jackie Siefring (15th-8.76); High Jump: Jackie Siefring (13th-5-5/1.65m); Shot Put: Jackie Siefring (9th-40-2.25/12.25m); Long Jump: Jackie Siefring (10th-19-2/5.84m); 800 Meters: Jackie Siefring (2nd-2:12.60)