As Samantha Murphy walked off the track at Historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon Friday night, she did so as the second fastest female Lion ever over 800m. Running at the NCAA Championships, Murphy leap frogged past former club record holder Grace Verbeek with her new personal best time of 2:02.10 to finish fifth.
Murphy has had a breakout season at the University of Illinois that has seen her lifetime best in the event drop by more than six seconds. With her fifth place finish, Murphy also earned her second All-American distinction of the school year. She had previously placed fourth in the NCAA Indoor Championships in March.
Maddex, Makinde Robertson compete in NTL opener
A trio of Lions headed east to Halifax this weekend to compete in the first stop of the 2013 National Track League Circuit, Aileen Meagher International, on Sunday night. Hurdler Ashlea Maddex continued her strong season, placing fourth in the strong field, ahead of Olympic finalist Phylicia George, with a wind aided time of 13.49 seconds.
In the men’s 200m, Oluwasegun Makinde placed second behind fellow Olympian Tremaine Harris in a a time of 21.18 seconds. Meanwhile in the 400m, Michael Robertson, finished fourth in 47.69.
