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39 T he transition from high school to collegiate running can be difficult. Toss in an ingredient known as a global pandemic, and the recipe for success can become even more difficult. e excuses are built in, but University of Iowa freshman Max Murphy is not buying it. Murphy wasted no time and le no doubt that he is ready for the stage. e Bettendorf, Iowa, native burst onto the scene with an all-time top 10 performance in his Hawkeye debut Jan. 9. At the Hawkeye Border Battle and racing for the first time at his home track, Murphy finished fourth in the mile in 4:06.7, a time that ranks No. 8 all-time in program history. It was an impressive performance, and it didn't happen by accident. "During the pandemic we have had a lot of interruptions, so it's important to keep my schedule as consistent as possible and focus on building consistency through training." Murphy said. Fast forward three weeks, and Murphy was on the line for another debut, this time at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships in Shelbyville, Indiana. Murphy approached the race just as he had all season, but there are some things you just don't train for. "About 200 meters into the race, a Purdue athlete in front of me fell, so I jumped over him. e next thing I knew I was on the ground and my shoe was half off," Murphy said. "I had to make a split second decision to either stop and put the shoe back on, or run without the shoe. So, I ended up running the race without the shoe. e race didn't go the way I wanted, but given the circumstances that I couldn't control, I thought it was decent. It was a good learning experience if nothing else." Murphy ended up finishing 53rd with a time of 25:40.9. His decision to continue on and run nearly the entire race with one shoe revealed a lot about his will to win for his team. Moreover, a lot of Murphy's motivation for the sport comes from the large number of close races he has been in throughout his career. "I think one second can make all the difference," Murphy said. "I won our state meet last year by .2 seconds and qualified for Nike nationals by .2 as well. I always put the work in to make the extra 1/10 of a second. I enjoy pushing myself to be the best and fighting for my team. I will always do whatever it takes." It is a workman-like mindset, and Murphy takes great joy in the process. "I started running in junior high because I was good at running and soccer," he said. "It was fun but nothing crazy. Once I got to high school, I started liking it a lot more. I enjoy the atmosphere and pushing myself to be the best I can and enjoy the amazing people I have met. A lot of people have supported me so that's helped. Running is a good mental break from everything in life." FEBRUARY SCHEDULE Feb. 12-13 Hawkeye B1G Invitational Feb. 12-13 at Spire B1G Prep Feb. 19 Hawkeye Last Chance Meet Feb. 25 Big Ten Championships