Murphy signs to throw at Dayton

Maria Murphy has made a career out of sending the discus and shot put flying through the air.
Next year, she’ll be a Flyer herself.
The Jay County High School senior made her decision official Monday, signing a national letter of intent to compete for the University of Dayton women’s track team next season.
“When I went to Dayton it just felt like that’s where I should be,” said Murphy, who was also considering Indiana, Butler and Bowling Green. “The coach was real nice, and the girls were really nice. They were all real welcoming. And it’s a really good program also.”
She will join a squad that finished as the Atlantic 10 runner-up behind Charlotte last season.
Mallory Barnes, then a senior, led the Flyers with A-10 championships in the shot put and hammer throw last season. The team had the top two athletes in the conference in the shot put, two of the top five in the hammer throw and two of the top seven in the discus.
Murphy said she had opportunities to throw and play basketball at the Division III level, but wanted to test herself against the best.
“Probably about a year ago I didn’t think I could go to a Division I school,” she said. “I worked really hard the past four years and most people don’t get the chance to (compete at) a Division I college. … I decided this is a once-in-a-lifetime shot and I want to see how good I can get.”
Murphy’s career took off, somewhat unexpectedly, during her sophomore season.
She had won Olympic Athletic Conference titles in both of her events, but finished second in the sectional in the shot put and third in the discus. She was seeded seventh in both heading into the regional competition.
But at that regional meet at Ben Davis she shocked herself, throwing a career-best 113 feet, 1 inch on her first throw in the discus and finishing in second place to earn a berth in the state finals.
“I used to think track was my fun, laid-back sport,” said Murphy. “I definitely work a lot harder at it. Last year after state I was off for a week and then me and (JCHS assistant coach Kerri George) started lifting four days a week. I practiced every day. …
“I work out every day, even after basketball. It definitely opened my eyes to work a lot harder. It made me want to push so I can be the best I can be.”
Building off of her trip to the state finals, Murphy put together an undefeated regular season in both the discus and shot put during her junior year. She won sectional titles by nearly 10 feet in the discus and more than three feet in the shot put.
And returning to Ben Davis for regional action, she again set the tone from the start. Her first throw in the discus traveled 126 feet, 2½ inches, and no one else cleared the 123-foot mark as Murphy cruised to the regional title.
“It’s just a huge accomplishment for her,” said JCHS coach Brian McEvoy of Murphy, who went on to finish 15th in the state. “The thing about Maria is she never settled. She had a really good freshman year and she could have been a pretty decent area thrower and never gotten any better, but she never settled for that. When she got the state berth her sophomore year that really propelled her forward.”
Murphy, who also plays volleyball and basketball for the Patriots, wants to continue to build on her accomplishments this season.
She wants to take down the JCHS school discus record of 130 feet, 7 inches set by Carla Miller in 1982, but has set her sights beyond that mark as well. She said she’s shooting for at least 140 feet in the discus and 42 feet in the shot put.
Murphy also said she not only wants to earn a state medal in the discus by finishing in the top nine at the state meet, but hopes to be among the top four.
“You’ve just got to have the drive that no one else has,” said McEvoy, noting that he believes Murphy can make the state finals in both events. “She has that drive. She’s just committed to it. … She got that little taste of success and now she’s going to do whatever it takes to be successful.”[[In-content Ad]]