Murphy Leads Zips' Efforts on Day One of NCAA Track and Field Championships

Wednesday, June 8

University of Akron

NCAA Outdoor Championships

Murphy Leads Zips' Efforts on Day One of NCAA Track and Field Championships

June 08 | Track & Field

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EUGENE, Ore. - University of Akron junior Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio) advanced to the finals of the 1,500 meters on the opening day of the NCAA Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, June 8, to lead the Zips' efforts at historic Hayward Field.

Turning in the fastest time in his heat, 3:49.03, Murphy is now one of 12 runners who will compete for the NCAA title in the event on Friday, June 10, at 8:42 p.m. ET.

Murphy ran with the pack for much of the first two laps of the race before breaking for the front with approximately 500 meters to run. He battled back and forth with Penn State's Brannon Kidder before edging the Nittany Lion out at the line by three one-hundredths of a second.

The second heat was run at a much faster pace as 11 of the 12 runners bettered the mark, but the top five finishers in each heat and the next two best time moved in the championship race, meaning Murphy will vie for a title on Friday.

Sophomore Terrell McClain (Youngstown, Ohio) and Joe Oduho (Erie, Pa.) each opened the long jump competition with strong marks jumping 24-6.50 (7.48m) and 24-2.25 (7.37m), respectively.

McClain stood in eighth place with two jumpers remaining in the competition with the top nine competitors advancing to the finals. A pair of strong marks in those jumps prevented McClain, who earned second-team All-America honors, from moving into the finals.

Oduho posted his top performance on his final jump where he soared to a mark of 24-3.75 (7.41m) to conclude the competition in 15th place, joining McClain earning second-team All-America accolades.

Senior Alex McCune (Pittsburgh, Pa.) opened the decathlon placing third in his heat of the 100 meters crossing the line in 11.23.

McCune registered a mark of 22-6.50 (6.87m) on his third and final jump in the long jump to finish sixth in his flight and 16th overall.

His best finish followed in the shot put where he unleashed a throw of 46-9 (14.25m) to place fifth overall.

After passing on the opening two heights of the high jump, McCune needed three attempts to surpass 6-0 (1.83m). He followed suit flying past 6-1.25 (1.86m) on his first run at the height before proving unsuccessful at overcoming 6-2.25 (1.89m) to place 18th in the event.

McCune closed out his day running the 400 meters in 52.49 to enter the final day of the decathlon in 20th place with a five-event cumulative score of 3,719.

McCune will round out the men's decathlon on Thursday, June 9, competing in the 110-meter hurdles (1:30 p.m. ET), discus (2:20 p.m. ET), pole vault (3:30 p.m. ET), javelin (6 p.m. ET) and 1,500 meters (9:56 p.m. ET).

Junior Matt Rowland (Bellevue, Ohio) was pushed to his third and final attempt in the pole vault at the opening height, 16-10.75 (5.15m), before successfully clearing the bar. Despite not being able to eclipse his career-best mark of 17-4.50 (5.30m), Rowland garnered honorable mention All-America accolades with a 20th-place finish.

The opening day of women's events occurs on Thursday, as senior Caroline Hasse (Potsdam, Germany) participates in the women's pole vault at 8 p.m. ET. Hasse is seeded 17th in the competition. In 2015, she garnered second-team All-America accolades after placing 12th in the championship final, while earning honorable mention All-America honors in 2014.

MEN'S PRELIMINARIES:
1,500 Meters: Clayton Murphy (1st (12th)-3:49.03)

MEN'S FINALS:
Pole Vault: Matt Rowland (20th-16-10.75/5.15m); Long Jump: Terrell McClain (10th-24-6.50/7.48m), Joe Oduho (15th-24-3.75/7.41m)

DECATHLON: Alex McCune (20th-3,719); 100 Meters: McCune (19th-11.23); Long Jump: McCune (16th-22-6.50/6.87m); Shot Put: McCune (5th-46-9/14.25m); High Jump: McCune (18th-6-2.25/1.89m); 400 Meters: McCune (23rd-52.49)