Would Clayton Murphy have won the NCAA 800?

Who?

NO

I dont know guys... lets put some thought into this. You gotta factor in that almost everybody in the final PR'ed by a good margin. So obviously it was fast and that always bodes well for Murphy.

Murphy ran 1:46 low indoors and 1:46 outdoors. Very close to Braziers PR beforehand, do I think Murphy could go 1:44? Absolutely. Do I think he could have beat Brazier? Depends on how the race played out with him in there.

I think he would have been under 1:44 as well, not sure if he's under 1:43.5, but I think it's close. Last year he ran 1:45.6 in the 800m but 3:40.7 in the 1500m, gotta think the 4 second improvement at 1500m gives him significant gains in the 800m. Not too mention Murphy beat indoor world champ Boris Berian at Drake Relays. Berian went on to win the 800 at Pre a couple of weeks later.... Not going to say he would have definitely beat Brazier, but I think he would have been neck and neck with him.

He would have tagged McBride but no one was beating Brazier. He had 1:42 in him if necessary (considering how he passed McBride on the curve then looked like he was cruising it in)

Murphy vs. Brazier wrote:

Would Clayton Murphy have won the NCAA 800?

4/10. Couldn't do better than this?

Just for sh*ts... dude has a PR 2 seconds behind Brazier. Dude has run 3.2 seconds slower than Brazier this season.

Clown Town wrote:

Murphy vs. Brazier wrote:

Would Clayton Murphy have won the NCAA 800?

4/10. Couldn't do better than this?

Just for sh*ts... dude has a PR 2 seconds behind Brazier. Dude has run 3.2 seconds slower than Brazier this season.

What a facile analysis. Are you forgetting that just a week ago Donovan Brazier's pr was slower than Clayton Murphy's?

Murphy is a stud but I don't see any way he runs faster than 1:43.55 to win. If you just inserted him into that race (all other things remaining the same) I'm guessing he would have been battling back with McBride for second place in 1:44 mid-high.

That being said, I think he would have won if the pace would have gone out in 52+ at 400m.

I'm a little surprised to be in the minority, but I think Murphy would have. No way would Mcbride have gone out in 50 with Murphy right on his tail. McBride must have assumed he could run away from Brazier and Walker, but I doubt he would have felt the same about Murphy. The pace would have gone out slower, unless Brazier wanted to be the sacrificial lamb--how'd that work out for Hector Hernandez or Brandon McBride?--and Murphy, with his USA Championships and Worlds experience, would have likely outkicked both of them over the last 150, much as he did to Wynne and Yorks. Without Murphy, McBride thought he could win against anyone in a straight race. He proved incorrect.

U can't hate on Murphy he is a true competitor doesn't like to lose. No doubt would he have won if he was pushed by these guys. Has yet to been pushed!! Agreed^

but... wrote:

I'm a little surprised to be in the minority, but I think Murphy would have. No way would Mcbride have gone out in 50 with Murphy right on his tail. McBride must have assumed he could run away from Brazier and Walker, but I doubt he would have felt the same about Murphy. The pace would have gone out slower, unless Brazier wanted to be the sacrificial lamb--how'd that work out for Hector Hernandez or Brandon McBride?--and Murphy, with his USA Championships and Worlds experience, would have likely outkicked both of them over the last 150, much as he did to Wynne and Yorks. Without Murphy, McBride thought he could win against anyone in a straight race. He proved incorrect.

Brazier would have won and still smashed the collegiate record leading from the gun if he needed to.

Yeah...cuz going out slower takes the kick out of a guy like Murphy.Try to think at least a little before hacking away at the keyboard.

but... wrote:

I'm a little surprised to be in the minority, but I think Murphy would have. No way would Mcbride have gone out in 50 with Murphy right on his tail. McBride must have assumed he could run away from Brazier and Walker, but I doubt he would have felt the same about Murphy. The pace would have gone out slower, unless Brazier wanted to be the sacrificial lamb--how'd that work out for Hector Hernandez or Brandon McBride?--and Murphy, with his USA Championships and Worlds experience, would have likely outkicked both of them over the last 150, much as he did to Wynne and Yorks. Without Murphy, McBride thought he could win against anyone in a straight race. He proved incorrect.

Let's look at the facts!!! So Murphy and brazier run about same 400 split right?? Murphy has a much better 1500 times. Murphy more experience. Very smart racer. Money on Murphy!

Murphy would have most likely won the 800. He is a stronger runner with more experience. Brazier is good at doing a lot of jive talk. Brazier will never be any fast than what he just ran. Mark my words!

Sure...it only took 50 years to break the record. Why not assume Clayton could have done it? :-/

Bruinboy wrote:

Sure...it only took 50 years to break the record. Why not assume Clayton could have done it? :-/

Because he is undefeated this year including beating the world 800m indoor champ?

Although it's hard to say Brazier had nothing on Murphy prior to NCAAs so there's no reason to bet against him they seem very comparable but I think Murphy would have won. I think it would have even been faster. Just my opinion though :-)

McBride wouldn't dare to front run with Murphy on his tail. I think there's a strong argument to be made that McBride feared Murphy way more than he feared Brazier up until Friday. McBride had just as fast a 1500 as Murphy up until NCAAs, and they had similar 400s. I don't think it's a stretch to think that McBride wouldn't want to be the sacrificial lamb if Murphy were in the race. He should never have been in any case. It was McBride's miscalculation that led to Ryun's record being broken. He might have beaten Brazier if the pace were north of 1:46.

Just get away from your computer the rest of the day. It just isn't working out for you.

but... wrote:

McBride wouldn't dare to front run with Murphy on his tail. I think there's a strong argument to be made that McBride feared Murphy way more than he feared Brazier up until Friday. McBride had just as fast a 1500 as Murphy up until NCAAs, and they had similar 400s. I don't think it's a stretch to think that McBride wouldn't want to be the sacrificial lamb if Murphy were in the race. He should never have been in any case. It was McBride's miscalculation that led to Ryun's record being broken. He might have beaten Brazier if the pace were north of 1:46.

Oh...THAT John Holmes! wrote:

Yeah...cuz going out slower takes the kick out of a guy like Murphy.

Try to think at least a little before hacking away at the keyboard.