Teams: Women's Track & Field: Press Releases

Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2000

MURPHY NAMED NECAC DIVISION III FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

MEDFORD – Caitlin Murphy (Nowell, MA/Notre Dame Academy), a 2000 graduate of Tufts University, has been named the New England College Athletic Conference (NECAC) Division III Women's Athlete of the Year.

The NECAC, which currently has 83 member schools, has been honoring New England Athletes of the Year in Divisions I, II and III since 1985. The organization also recognizes the top coaches and teams and a media member each year. Selections were made by subcommittees from each division with the criteria including athletic achievement and academic accomplishment.

During 1999-00, Murphy capped off her outstanding four-year career with the Tufts track and field and cross country teams under head coach Branwen Smith-King. She earned All-America honors in both sports.

In March she defended her national title in the 800 meters at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 2:12.15. Her efforts helped the Jumbos place seventh at the national meet. A six-time All-American in track and field, she posted the nation's fasted times in the 800 and 1,500 meters during the indoor season and was named the New England Division III Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field Association. She ran a school-record time of 2:11.71 in the 800 meters to win the All-New England title and posted a school-record time of 4:32.24 to win the 1,500 meters at the New England Division III championship. She also won the 1,000 meters at the New England Division III meet. She closed out her career with six school records indoors.

That's just indoors. During the 2000 outdoor season she was undefeated in Division III races, winning the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) 800 meters race and the New England Division III 800 meters title. An automatic national qualifier in the 800 and 1,500, she did not attend the national championships because of a family wedding.

Murphy also developed into a leading competitor for the Tufts cross country team during her career. Last fall she helped the Jumbos finish third at the NCAA New England Region championship and 11th at the NCAA National Championship race. She was 33rd overall at Nationals to earn All-America honors.

An English major, Murphy maintained a 3.2 cumulative grade point average. She was selected as an Academic All-American during the cross country and track seasons.

"Often an athlete of Caitlin's stature can be isolated or treated differently, because they are so superior athletically," Smith-King said. "Not Caitlin. She was the team's number one cheerleader. Even when she was injured and not competing, she attended every meet.

"Caitlin is confident and goal-oriented," Smith-King continued. "I believe she has a wonderful future in the sport beyond college."

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