Pierce Murphy

Position:
Distance
Height:
5-8
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Hanalei, Hawaii
High School:
Island

PERSONAL BESTS
INDOOR
3,000-Meters: 7:51.51 (2016)
5,000-Meters: 13:39.29 (2015)
OUTDOOR
1,500-Meters: 3:44.31 (2015)
5,000-Meters: 13:37.05 (2015)
10,000-Meters: 28:52.70 (2015)

MPSF SCORING
2016 3,000 Meters, 1st (7:51.51)

PAC-12 SCORING
2013 10,000 Meters, 3rd (29:36.48)
2015 5,000 Meters, 4th (13:48.43)
2016 5,000 Meters, 4th (13:42.43)

NCAA SCORING
2015 (I) 5,000 Meters, 6th (13:54.36)
2015 (O) 10,000 Meters, 5th (29:15.18)
2016 (I) 5,000 Meters, 3rd (13:52.22)
2016 (I) 3,000 Meters, 5th (8:02.40)
2016 (O) 10,000 Meters, 4th (29:12.49)

HONORS
2015 All-America First Team (Indoor 5k)
2015 All-America First Team (Outdoor 10k)
2016 All-America First Team (Indoor 5k)
2016 All-America First Team (Indoor 3k)
2016 All-America First Team (Outdoor 10k)

CAREER UPDATE: Murphy came to CU as a walk-on, but left as one of CU’s top runners. A five-time track All-American, his name is all over the CU record books, indoors and outdoors. He is the Buffs’ third fastest indoor 5k performer (13:39.29) and is fourth in the 3,000 (7:51.51). Outdoors, he ranks ninth in the 5k (13:37.05) and eighth on CU’s 10,000 performers list (28:48.79). Murphy was also the first CU male to win an MPSF individual championships, taking first in the 3,000 in 2016.

2016: Indoor: Murphy continued to have an outstanding senior season for the Buffs, as he collected a pair of first team All-America honors in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs. He started the season at the Husky Classic (2/12), racing the 5k in 13:40.12 to place second at the meet and qualify for nationals. Murphy became CU’s first men’s individual MPSF Champion when he won the 3k in 7:51.51, which also put him fourth on CU’s all-time performers list and qualified for NCAAs. His first race at nationals was the 5k – and he finished third in 13:52.22. Less than 24 hours later, Murphy earned a fifth place finish in the 3k (8:02.40) for his second first team All-America honor of the weekend.
Outdoor: Murphy wrapped up his storied career for the Buffs, placing fourth at the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 (29:12.49), his highest NCAA outdoor finish. Before he got to NCAAs, Murphy had a great final season, racing the 5k and 10k. He clocked a season-best 13:38.19 at Mt. SAC Relays, finishing fifth in the invitational section. At the Payton Jordan Invitational, Murphy placed 20^th overall in the top second of the 10k (second collegiate finisher), clocking in with a PR of 28:48.79 to put him eighth on CU’s all-time performers list. He ran the 5k (13:42.43) at the Pac-12 Championships, coming away with a fourth place finish. Murphy competed in both the 10k and 5k at the NCAA West Prelims, placing second overall in the 10k to advance to NCAAs.

2015: Indoor: Murphy ran a pair of 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs during the indoor season. He debuted in the 3k at the Air Force Invite (1/24), winning the race in 8:38.92. A couple weeks later at the Husky Classic (2/13), he won the 5k in 13:39.29, which made him CU’s third fastest performer in the event. The time also qualified him for NCAAs. Murphy went back to the 3k at the MSPF Championship and finished the race in 7:59.53. His final race of the indoor season was the 5k at NCAAs where he earned his first track All-America honor with a sixth place finish (13:54.36).
Outdoor: Murphy continued to have a great season and earned his first outdoor All-America honor in the process. He PR’d in each of the three events he ran. Murphy only ran the 1,500 once, clocking in at 3:44.31 at the Bryan Clay Invite (4/17). At the Stanford Invite (4/3), he became the 11^th best CU performer after finishing in 28:52.70. Murphy’s PR of 13:37.05 (the ninth best in CU history) was run at the Payton Jordan Invite (5/2). He only ran the 5k at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing fourth overall (13:48.43). Murphy advanced to the NCAA West Prelims in both the 5k and 10k. He ran his 10k in 29:45.35 for seventh place and qualified for the NCAA finals, where he earned All-America honors in the 10k, finishing fifth in 29:15.18.

2014: Indoor: Murphy ran a personal best of 13:56.37 in the 5k at the Husky Classic (2/14). He competed in the 3k at the MPSF Championships and just missed scoring for CU with a ninth-place finish and a personal-best of 8:03.35.
Outdoor: Murphy mostly focused on the longer distances during the outdoor season. He started the year running a 10k at the Jerry Quiller Classic (3/21) and tied for first in 30:20.57. At the next home meet, the CU Invite (4/12), Murphy clocked a PR of 3:54.44 in the 1,500. He ran a 5k at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invite, clocking in with another PR at 13:48.74. Murphy again ran the 5k at the Pac-12 Championships, placing ninth overall in 14:10.17. His times in the 5k and 10k qualified him for the NCAA West Preliminary Championships. He was 13^th in the 10k (29:42.22) and 19^th in the 5k (14:20.81).

2013: Indoor: Did not compete.
Outdoor: Murphy started the season winning the 3,000 at the Jerry Quiller Classic (3/16), crossing the finish in 8:35.56. For the rest of the season, Murphy focused on the longer distances. He recorded a season-best time of 14:04.21 in the 5,000 at Mt. SAC Relays, finishing seventh in the ‘A’ section. Murphy’s PR in the 10k came at the Pac-12 Championships where he placed third overall in 29:36.48. He ended his redshirt freshman season with a 30^th-place finish at the NCAA West Preliminary Championships.

2012: Indoor: Murphy raced once during the indoor season. He ran the mile in 4:30.92 at the Air Force Team Challenge (1/28).
Outdoor: Redshirt. Did not compete.

CROSS COUNTRY: (2015) Murphy had one of the best individual seasons for a Buff, leading CU in all five varsity races. Murphy won the Rocky Mountain Shootout and went on to take fifth overall at NCAA Pre-Nationals. He helped the Buffs to their fifth straight Pac-12 Championship a couple weeks later, placing fourth overall. He recorded all-region honors with a seventh place finish and ended his career with a third place finish at NCAAs for his third straight All-American honor. It was the best finish for a Buff since 2003 when Dathan Ritzenhein won the meet. (2014) Murphy continued to perform well for the Buffs, helping them to their second straight NCAA title and fourth consecutive Pac-12 Championship. He started the season second at the Rocky Mountain Shootout and was 12^th at pre-nationals. Murphy earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors with a seventh place finish at the league meet. He was 12^th at the regional championship, which earned him all-region honors. Murphy finished the season with a 35^th place finish at NCAAs for his second All-America honor. (2013) Murphy had another great season, scoring in all five varsity meets. He started the season placing fourth at the Rocky Mountain Shootout as CU’s No. 2 harrier. The next two meets, Murphy came across the line fourth for CU. He was 24^th at pre-nationals and was seventh at the Pac-12 Championships, helping CU to its third straight Pac-12 team Championship. Murphy led the Buffs for the first time at regionals with a fifth-place finish and rounded out his season by placing 39^th at NCAAs, helping the Buffs win the NCAA title. During the season, he was named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team, All-Mountain Region and All-America teams. (2012) Murphy had an outstanding redshirt freshman season and was CU’s No. 4 runner in four of the five varsity meets. Murphy helped the Buffs win their second straight Pac-12 team title, placing 14^th overall. It was the only meet he did not score for the Buffs as he was the sixth harrier to finish the race. He ended the season at nationals placing 45^th. The Buffs were third overall as a team. He earned All-Pac-12 Second Team and all-region honors during the season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Murphy was a standout at Island School in Lihue, Hawai’i. He set a pair of state records en route to winning the 1,500 and 3,000-meter runs at the Hawaii State Championships in 2011 and was named the Gatorade Hawai’i Track Athlete of the Year. In 2009, he was named the Gatorade Hawai’i Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Murphy owns records for the island of Kauai in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000. He was a KIG all-star for track and cross country his freshman through senior seasons.

HIGH SCHOOL BESTS: 800-meters: 2:00.67; 1,600-meters: 4:29.53; 3,200-meters: 9:14.09; 5,000-meters: 16:26.00.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Murphy earned a degree in film studies.

PERSONAL: Pierce Thomas Murphy is the son of Shawn and Doreen Murphy of Hanalei, Hawai’i. He has one younger sister, Jade. He enjoys surfing in his free time.