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Clayton Murphy

Quick Info

PBs

Bio

Clayton grew up in New Madison, Ohio. He ran track and XC in high school (one of 6 people on the team), breaking the DIII state record in the 1600m with a time of 4:11 in 2013. However, he never ran at the Nike XC Nationals, Foot Locker Nationals, or any of the other major meets.

In 2014, he enrolled at the University of Akron. His freshman year, he won the Mid-American Converence indoor meet, and outdoors lowered his 800m time to 1:50, soon followed by winning the MAC 1500m with a time of 3:44.

His sophomore year, his NCAA D1 Indoor debut, he placed 3rd in the 800m (1:47). Outdoors he placed 3rd again (1:49). At the Drake Relays, he won the 1500m and set a school record (3:40). That year he raced at the USATF Outdoor Championships, placing 4th. Due a contract dispute, Nick Symmonds couldn’t race that year, and Clayton got a call, inviting him to compete with Team USA at the 2015 Beijing World Championships. He ended up being the top US finisher, making it to the semifinals.

In his junior year in 2016, he entered in four races at the MAC Indoor Championships - the distance medley, 4x400m, mile, and 800m. He won them all. He then won the NCAA Indoor Championships 800m, and went on to win the outdoor MAC Championships 1500m and 800m, and the NCAA 1500m.

Clayton gave up his final season of eligibility to sign with Nike.

At the 2016 Olympic Trials, he chose to focus on the 800m. In a very fast race, he hung at essentially the very back for a full 600m, and even though Boris Berian had a huge lead, Clayton was able to outkick him for the win (with both of them looking insanely relaxed and laughing at the end) (1:44) (video). At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Clayton use a similar strategy, hanging mostly towards the middle, and using his insane kick to place 3rd for a Bronze medal (1:42.93), making him the 5th fastest American ever.

At the 2017 USATF Championships, Clayton doubled yet again. On Thursday, he raced the 800 heats, coming in 1st with a 1:47, moving him to the next round. Just a few hours later, he raced the 1500m, placing 4th in his heat (3:40), qualifying him for the finals. On Friday he raced the 800m semi-finals, this time placing second in his heat (1:45), qualifying him for the finals. On Saturday, he raced the 1500m finals. Here, he ended up placing dead last (3:50). On Sunday, he withdrew from the 800m (DNS).

Doping History

None

Training and Nutrition

• Murphy only started doing “the things that make you an elite runner” in college - core work, stretching, icing, recovering, sleep, protein after practice.

• Sponsored by SOS Rehydrate

• YESSS, R8

Anecdotes to tell your friends

• Clayton and Ariana Washington rumors.

• Clayton has been trying to break the oldest American Record, the 1000m, set by Rick Wohlhuter in 1974 (2:13.9). Wohlhuter even flew in to the Portland Track Festival (which runs a 1000m outdoor event) to hold the finish line tape, but Clayton missed it (2:17.17).

• He’s just a huge fan of track and field. He’s said as much in interviews, but all of his tweets and IG photos are of track news, much of which he’s not even involved in. I feel like he’d fit in here.

Upcoming Races

Unknown, now that he’s (somehow) not going to Worlds. Diamond League maybe?

1. Anecdotes/stories you’d like to share? Thoughts on Clayton in general?
   
2. Ever DNS a race? How did you get your redemption?
3. Nick Symmonds sort of just retired, do we do him in the future anyway? If you said no, does this sway your opinion?
   
4. Anything else you’d like to add?