Athlete of the Week: Sky's the limit for Norwich's Murray
Norwich freshman, Matt Murray, is still in the nascent stage of his track and field career. Still, he is already a strong presence on the Tornado’s indoor track and field record book, and before he is through – three years from now – the Murray name may be splashed all over the NHS indoor and outdoor track and field record books.
Murray emerged as a standout performer last season in the eighth grade when he typically ran against much older boys. His success took him all the way to the U.S. Indoor Nationals last year, and he was second in the nation in his age group in the 400-meter dash. “They say that as a coach, in his career, may come across five to 10 athletes who have the athletic ability, but also the drive to succeed,” said Norwich assistant indoor track and field coach, Paul Sims. “Matt is one of those people. He’s the type of kid every coach wants on their team.”
The Norwich coaching staff made a decision earlier this season to enter Murray against the best possible competition. As a freshman, Murray was eligible to compete in the 9th-10th grade meets. The Tornado staff decided to eschew that option, and is placing Murray in meets in the junior and senior division. “Matt’s goal is to go to states, and we think he has a legitimate shot,” Sims said. “We thought that putting him in the 11-12 grade division, it will give him as many opportunities as possilble to face the best competition.”
Murray has made the Norwich coaching brain trust look brilliant with his own brilliant performances. In his first 600-meter race against older competition, Murray broke the Norwich school record winning the race in 1:29.1. This past weekend at the Southern Tier Invitational – perhaps the premier indoor track and field meet during the regular season – Murray was even better.
Much better.
The ninth-grade Tornado runner shaved 2 1/2 seconds off his own school record, and running against some of the best competition in New York State, placed second in 1:26.41. Murray actually won his heat, so it remains to be seen if he would have defeated the top runner in the other heat. Murray also tied the school record in the pole vault clearing 10 feet, and he is our clearcut choice this week as Smith Ford, Giant’s Warehouse/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
“Matt just ran the 600 last weekend perfectly,” Sims said. “I don’t think Matt even knows how good he is. If you run a 1:45 and you drop three seconds, that’s no big deal. But to go from 1:29 to 1:26, that’s significant.”
That Murray is able to perform at an elite level – and continues to improve – is a feat unto itself. Norwich doesn’t have an indoor track and field practice facility. To train, Sims and head coach Shaun Horan have team members running through the halls of Norwich High School. It’s the best the Tornado staff can do, and Horan has a meter wheel to measure specific distances for training. “We’ve been doing this for a few years now, so the custodial staff and teachers know we’re practicing,” Sims said, while also noting the limitations of running inside school hallways. “The kids do have to slow down on the tight corners.”
When you’re sprinting through tight hallways and running around 90-degree turns during your practice time, it must seem like cheating when Murray gets to run on a symmetrical oval. Despite those Spartan training conditions at Norwich, Sims said Murray has never questioned anything the coaching staff has asked him to do. Considering how far Murray has advanced in just a short time this season, any goal the freshman sets is attainable in Sims’ mind. “When you combine Matt’s ability with his work ethic, the sky’s the limit for this kid.” he said.
Follow Patrick Newell on Twitter @evesunpat
Murray emerged as a standout performer last season in the eighth grade when he typically ran against much older boys. His success took him all the way to the U.S. Indoor Nationals last year, and he was second in the nation in his age group in the 400-meter dash. “They say that as a coach, in his career, may come across five to 10 athletes who have the athletic ability, but also the drive to succeed,” said Norwich assistant indoor track and field coach, Paul Sims. “Matt is one of those people. He’s the type of kid every coach wants on their team.”
The Norwich coaching staff made a decision earlier this season to enter Murray against the best possible competition. As a freshman, Murray was eligible to compete in the 9th-10th grade meets. The Tornado staff decided to eschew that option, and is placing Murray in meets in the junior and senior division. “Matt’s goal is to go to states, and we think he has a legitimate shot,” Sims said. “We thought that putting him in the 11-12 grade division, it will give him as many opportunities as possilble to face the best competition.”
Murray has made the Norwich coaching brain trust look brilliant with his own brilliant performances. In his first 600-meter race against older competition, Murray broke the Norwich school record winning the race in 1:29.1. This past weekend at the Southern Tier Invitational – perhaps the premier indoor track and field meet during the regular season – Murray was even better.
Much better.
The ninth-grade Tornado runner shaved 2 1/2 seconds off his own school record, and running against some of the best competition in New York State, placed second in 1:26.41. Murray actually won his heat, so it remains to be seen if he would have defeated the top runner in the other heat. Murray also tied the school record in the pole vault clearing 10 feet, and he is our clearcut choice this week as Smith Ford, Giant’s Warehouse/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
“Matt just ran the 600 last weekend perfectly,” Sims said. “I don’t think Matt even knows how good he is. If you run a 1:45 and you drop three seconds, that’s no big deal. But to go from 1:29 to 1:26, that’s significant.”
That Murray is able to perform at an elite level – and continues to improve – is a feat unto itself. Norwich doesn’t have an indoor track and field practice facility. To train, Sims and head coach Shaun Horan have team members running through the halls of Norwich High School. It’s the best the Tornado staff can do, and Horan has a meter wheel to measure specific distances for training. “We’ve been doing this for a few years now, so the custodial staff and teachers know we’re practicing,” Sims said, while also noting the limitations of running inside school hallways. “The kids do have to slow down on the tight corners.”
When you’re sprinting through tight hallways and running around 90-degree turns during your practice time, it must seem like cheating when Murray gets to run on a symmetrical oval. Despite those Spartan training conditions at Norwich, Sims said Murray has never questioned anything the coaching staff has asked him to do. Considering how far Murray has advanced in just a short time this season, any goal the freshman sets is attainable in Sims’ mind. “When you combine Matt’s ability with his work ethic, the sky’s the limit for this kid.” he said.
Follow Patrick Newell on Twitter @evesunpat
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