Salute To Seniors: Laurie Murphy (Bountiful)


What was your most memorable race/throw/jump/vault/moment?


    My most memorable race was the cross country state championships senior year. That race was special to me because I came in third place individually and my team also came in third place overall. This was the best we have ever done in a state championship race.


Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?

    I had the opportunity to race against a lot of great competition over the years. The group of girls I competed against this past year really pushed me to my limits.


What was your greatest accomplishment?

    My greatest accomplishment was finally breaking five in the 1600m.


If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?


     If I could do it all over again, I would work harder my freshman year. I feel like this would have helped me improve a lot more my sophomore year. I would also try to take advantage of the time I had. The time goes by way too fast.



What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

    The most difficult obstacles I faced over the years was a stress fracture sophomore cross country, and getting the exact same mile pace, down to the second, five times in a row. Both of these were extremely frustrating, but I was able to overcome them both.


What will you miss the most?

    I will miss my team the most. They have pushed me so much throughout the years, and I have a lot of younger friends on my team. I will also miss my coaches. They have helped me become the runner I am today.


What advice would you give to younger athletes?

    Some advice I would give to younger athletes would be to work hard early. Don't just coast through your freshman and sophomore year, but work hard to be the best you can. By working hard in those younger years, you will be able to be ahead of where you otherwise would be.


What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?



    My coaches are amazing. They have influenced my running career more than any other people I know. They have pushed me to my limits and helped me become the best athlete I can be. They taught me what it takes to work hard and to set and achieve goals for myself. I would not be the person I am today without them.


What are your college plans?

    I will be running track and Cross Country for Weber State University. I am extremely excited to continue my runner career with them.


Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?

    I would like to say thank you to my mom and dad. They have supported me throughout my entire career and I would not be where I am today without them. Thank you Mom and Dad for everything you have done for me.