Grayson Murphy Leads Utah Track & Field Into NCAA Regionals

Grayson Murphy Leads Utah Track & Field Into NCAA Regionals

SACRAMENTO, Calif.-University of Utah senior All-American Grayson Murphy headlines the Utes’ women’s track and field team’s contingent to Sacramento State University this week for the NCAA West regionals. (Thursday-Saturday).

Murphy, the star senior out of Salt Lake City, will be joined by fellow senior Jessica Sams, junior Caitlin Faust and sophomore Sarah Newton.

Utes head coach Kyle Kepler says his hope is that he can get his kids to qualify for the NCAA Championship meet June 6-9 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Murphy, a four-time All-American, will be competing in her best event, the 3000-meter steeplechase, as well as the 5000 and 10000-meter runs. She represents the Utes’ best chance to have a representation at Hayward Field.

Murphy’s best time in the 3000-meter steeplechase this season is 9:51.36, which is the Pac-12’s best time of the season and fifth-best in the NCAA (which at the Division I level consists of 351 schools).

With this time, Murphy also broke her own school record in the event. She will compete in the 3000-meter steeplechase Friday at roughly 10:00 pm MDT.

Faust, a junior out of Stone Mountain, Ga. and Newton, a sophomore out of Holladay, Utah, will each be competing in the 800-meter run Thursday around 9:35 pm MDT. This duo continually rises up the Utes’ record books as Faust is currently the sixth-best 800-meter runner in school history and Newton is close behind in eighth-place all-time in school annals.

Sams, an Ogden, Utah product, will compete in the 5000-meter run which occurs at roughly 9:45 pm MDT on Saturday.

All athletes in these respective events at this regional who place in the top 12 will advance to Hayward Field.