The University of Akron Athletics
Murphy Included on Bowerman Award Pre-NCAA Prelims Watch List
May 20 | Track & Field
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THE BOWERMAN PRE-NCAA PRELIMS MEN'S WATCH LIST RELEASE
NEW ORLEANS, La. – University of Akron junior Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio) continued his standing as one of the elite athletes in the country as he was among those included on the Pre-NCAA Prelims Watch List for The Bowerman Award, the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced.
Perform has been an understatement for Murphy this season as established school records in the mile, 800 meters and 3,000 meters and as part of Mid-American Conference Champion 4x400 and Distance Medley relay squads.
Murphy is unbeaten this spring having competed in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 meters, respectively, as well as the 4x400 relay.
He captured a trio of championships at the MAC Championships on May 14, earning his 11th, 12th and 13th career league titles winning individual titles in the 800 meters (1:55.39) and 1,500 meters (3:45.83), as well as anchoring the victorious 4x400 relay squad (3:09.16).
Murphy added another impressive chapter to his growing resume as one of the premier 800-meter runners in the United States capturing the elite 800-meter title at the Drake Relays on April 30. Competing as the lone collegian in a stacked 800-meter field that included Boris Berian (2016 World Indoor 800m Champion/No. 6 World Ranking), Erik Sowinski (2016 World Indoor 800m Bronze Medalist/No. 13 World Ranking), Ryan Martin (2015 Pan American Games Bronze Medalist/No. 33 World Ranking) and Edward Kemboi (2015 NCAA 800m Indoor and Outdoor Champion), Murphy turned in an impressive showing capturing the championship in a season-best time of 1:46.71.
A week earlier, he captured the 1,500-meter title at the LSU Alumni Invitational in 3:44.21.
Murphy opened his spring season winning the 1,500 meters in 3:44.57 at the Raleigh Relays on March 25 before taking the title in the 800-meter invitational at the Texas Relays in 1:47.38 on March 31. Additionally, he anchored the 4x400 relay team at the Texas Relays on April 2 and set an outdoor program-record time of 8:19.09 to win the 3,000 meters at the Northeast Ohio Quad on April 16.
Murphy capped his indoor campaign in style capturing his first NCAA title crossing the line in a facility-record 1:46.68 at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship in Birmingham, Ala.
"It was fun watching his dominance at MAC," Akron head coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "He had a perfect conference meet winning all three events. The 1,500 meters at nationals will be his next great."
Murphy is the second athlete in Mid-American Conference history to be named to the 10-person list for the men or women joining former teammate Shawn Barber. The Bowerman Trophy, which was first awarded in 2009, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track and field athletes in the nation.
Oregon's Jenna Prandini and Florida's Marquis Dendy are the reigning winners of The Bowerman, which is named for legendary Oregon track & field and cross country coach Bill Bowerman.
Past winners include Olympic gold medalist, four-time World Champion and decathlon world-record holder Ashton Eaton (2010), 10,000-meter Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp (2009), 2011 IAAF World Champion at 1500 meters Jenny Simpson (2009), 2013 100-meter hurdles World Champion Brianna Rollins (2013) as well as 2012 Olympic high jump bronze medalist and 2015 World Champion Derek Drouin (2013).
Bowerman served the sport of track and field in numerous ways. His leadership in the USTFCCCA's predecessor organization, the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association, and his contributions to NCAA track and field and the running community as a whole are among his many lasting legacies.
For more information on The Bowerman, the award, the trophy and Bill Bowerman himself, visit TheBowerman.org.
The Bowerman Pre-NCAA Prelims Men's Watch List
Devon Allen, So. (R), Hurdles, Oregon
Ronnie Baker, Jr., TCU, Sprints
Jake Blankenship, Sr., Tennessee, Pole Vault
Edward Cheserek, Jr., Oregon, Distance
Jarrion Lawson, Sr., Arkansas, Jumps
Sam Mattis, Sr., Penn, Throws
Brandon McBride, So., Mississippi State, Distance
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Jr., LSU, Sprints
Lindon Victor, Jr., Texas A&M, Combined Events
Izaic Yorks, Sr., Washington, Mid-Distance
Also receiving votes: Ryan Crouser, Texas; Nick Miller, Oklahoma State; Clayton Murphy, Akron; Zach Ziemek, Wisconsin
