If you thought that Akron Track & Field would take a step back once Shawn Barber left to train for the Olympics, I'm happy to say that you were mistaken.

Clayton Murphy wins the 1,500m at the NCAA championships with a time of 3:36.38

Happy to see MAC representing. EMUs Simmons is an All-American in the decathalon.

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(06-10-2016 09:17 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  If you thought that Akron Track & Field would take a step back once Shawn Barber left to train for the Olympics, I'm happy to say that you were mistaken.

Clayton Murphy wins the 1,500m at the NCAA championships with a time of 3:36.38

Way to represent! Of course, the nit-picky part of me says Akron did take a step back with only 50% of the champions they would have had with Barber. Still....

Congrats!

Impressive---first Men's Soccer and now an individual NCAA national championship in the men's 1,500 m.

(06-11-2016 09:48 AM)T-Town Wrote:  Impressive---first Men's Soccer and now an individual NCAA national championship in the men's 1,500 m. Akron is winning national championships in sports UT doesn't even offer.

I guess UT decided to put all their eggs the "winning MAC Championships" basket instead. Hmm, upon further reflection, I don't think that reason holds up under scrutiny.

Doesn't hold up at all considering Akron won the Reese Cup for the second time in the past three years.

As for Murphy, his time was the 8th fastest in ncaa history. Impressive when you consider he was third in the outdoor NCAA last year in the 800 (as a sophomore), then won Pan Am Gold and made the world championship semi-finals (top American finisher) also in the 800. Even in the winter, he was the NCAA indoor champ in the 800.

So, in what was really his first national level 1500 race of his career, he ran the 8th fastest college time ever.

Between Barber's 3 and Murphy this year and likely next year, the Zips will probably go 5 straight years with a national titlist in track.

Can't blame Barber for leaving early to go pro since he had absolutely nothing more to prove at the college level, but would have been nice to have two ncaa champs this year.

So awesome. Track and field is that one sport where the competitors in the finals will be from (as example) Florida, Notre Dame, UCLA, and Texas and then there's the runners from Iona, Akron and Central Washington.

That was a hell of a race- his kick was so strong.

And he just turned pro this weekend. No sponsor deal yet but feels like a Brooks guy- they love their middle distance and Symmonds is about done. New Balance has been stepping up signing American men lately. Anywhere but Nike I hope. We'll see come Trials I guess. I'm sure he's got the standard for the 800 and just missed the standard for 1500 this weekend.

Not MAC related but the men's 800 final was pretty incredible as well. The women's 1500 and steeple finals were amazing for different reasons- 1500 champ nearly lost it letting up to celebrate at the line, and the steeple champ just blew away everyone.