USTFCCCA Regional Release
Releases courtesy of MAC Sport Information Departments
Akron
University of Akron junior Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio) along with assistant coach Tomasz Smialek were honored by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as Great Lakes Regional Men's Track Athlete and Assistant Coach of the Year recipients, respectively, the USTFCCCA announced on Monday, June 6.
"Clayton is very deserving," Akron head coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "He is one of the best, if not the best, middle-distance runners in the country."
An NCAA Championship qualifier in the 1,500 meters, after posting the top time (3:43.43) at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, Murphy is unbeaten this spring having competed in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 meters, as well as the 4x400 meter relay.
He captured MAC titles in the 800 (1:55.39) and 1,500 meters (3:45.83), as well as anchoring the winning 4x400 relay squad.
This season, competing as the lone collegian, he won the elite 800-meter title at the Drake Relays, defeating the reigning 2016 IAAF Indoor World Champion Boris Berian.
Smialek has led a talented group of jumpers this spring, including mentoring five Zips that earned berths into the NCAA Championships in senior Claudia Garcia Jou (Barcelona, Spain) in the women's high jump, senior Joe Oduho (Erie, Pa.) and sophomore Terrell McClain (Youngstown, Ohio) in the men's long jump and freshmen Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) and Cody Stine (Shelby, Ohio) in the men's high jump. He also assisted in the jump events for senior decathlete Alex McCune (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and sophomore heptathlete Jackie Siefring (Covington, Ohio).
His men's long jump group is rated third nationally in the USTFCCCA event squad rankings. The Zips' jumpers have recorded a pair of school records this spring, and posted nine, top-five program marks.
"Tom is an excellent coach," said Mitchell. "He has been doing an outstanding job with his jumpers. Having five jumpers at the national championships is a great accomplishment. His group came through big at conference as well."
With their selections as the Great Lakes Regional Men's Track Athlete and Assistant Coach of the Year recipients, Murphy and Smialek are in contention to become Akron's first-ever National Track and Assistant Coach of the Year honorees. The award winners will be announced later this month following the conclusion of the NCAA Championship, which will run June 8-11 in Eugene, Ore.
