Murphy 15th at state

BLOOMINGTON — The state finals were the measuring stick for Maria Murphy to see how far she had progressed in the last year.
Her improvement proved to be dramatic.
After finishing 26th in the state last season, the Jay County junior threw more than 18 feet better this season to take 15th in the discus in the IHSAA Girls Track and Field State Finals at Indiana University.
“Overall I thought she had a nice meet,” said JCHS coach Brian McEvoy. “Improvement was one big thing we were looking at, and she was … (almost) 19 feet better than what she was last year. She picked up a lot of positions.
“It’s from the end of this season to the beginning of next season where you really see that huge growth. That’s just a lot of commitment in the summer, and that really showed.”
Murphy’s first throw of the day — 119 feet, 9 inches — had her fifth among the 18 competitors in the first two flights. Her second toss traveled 112 feet, 3 inches as Farin Hickman of Whiteland Community bumped her back to sixth place.
The final throw of the preliminary round was Murphy’s best, traveling 120 feet, 3 inches. Still, Triton’s Megan Howdeshell surpassed her in the final round to bump her down to seventh place with one flight remaining.
“I just wish I could have gone faster through the circle, because I think that was one of the things that held me back,” said Murphy, who had a toss of 126 feet, 2 ½ inches to win the regional title last week at Ben Davis. “I think I was trying to be controlled, but I think I was being too controlled.”
Seven of the nine athletes in the final flight launched throws of 120 feet, 11 inches or better on their first attempt, bumping Murphy out of the top 10 required to make the finals.
“It was a good day for her,” said JCHS assistant coach Kerri (McClung) George, who was a two-time state champion for the Patriots in the shot put.“It was consistent with what she’s done all season. … (The finalists threw) just a little further. …
“This is a great opportunity. Not many people get to do this. I’m excited for her.”
Despite falling short of the finals and a chance to bring home a state medal with a top-nine finish, Murphy showed massive improvement from last season.
A year ago she was second-to-last at the state meet with a toss of 101 feet, 10 inches. Her effort Saturday showed an improvement of 18 feet, 5 inches and bumped her up 11 places.
Only Jeffersonville senior Tierney Mull, who improved by 21 feet and jumped from 24th place to ninth, made a bigger move since the 2010 state finals.
“I felt a lot better than last year, but I was still kind of disappointed because I really wanted to get in the finals,” said Murphy. “But going from 26th last year to 15th this year, that’s a lot.”
Southridge junior Cassie Wertman, who was second after the preliminary round, grabbed first place on her first throw of the finals and won the state title by more than six feet over Merrillville’s Nakel McClinton at 143 feet, 4 inches. Seven of the top 10 athletes in the event were seniors.
Murphy’s best throw this season was 127 feet, 2 inches at the Blackford Invitational, more than 14 feet better than her top throw of 113 feet, 1 inch last year.
Until Saturday, she was undefeated in the discus this season. She won the sectional championship by nearly 10 feet over Union’s Marie Lumpkin, and captured Jay County’s first regional title in girls track in more than a decade by more than three-feet over runner-up Mercedes Montgomery of North Central.
Murphy was also unbeaten in the shot put through the sectional tournament before placing fifth at the regional meet.
“It’s going to be good to see what happens over the course the next 12 months,” said George. “She’s going to get stronger and faster, and that’s important for her.”[[In-content Ad]]