Clayton Murphy was in Costa Rica on Thursday when he received some surprising news.

 

As he prepared to compete in the 800 at this weekend’s NACAC Championships in Central America, Murphy got word that US 800 champion Nick Symmonds was involved in a sponsorship dispute with USATF over rules that require him to wear Nike gear throughout the trip to Beijing for the World Championships August 22nd-30th. 

 

Symmonds, a Brooks sponsored athlete, is refusing to sign the contract mandated by USATF in order to compete for Team USA because he believes it “violates (his) rights as an athlete.” He has until Sunday to sign the contract or he will be left off the team for Beijing. 

 

If Symmonds does not go to Beijing, the 20-year-old Murphy would be the next man up by virtue of his fourth place finish at USA’s. With the deadline for Symmonds to sign USATF’s contract rapidly approaching, and his claims that he will not sign, there appears to be a very good chance that Murphy will be taken in Symmonds’ place. 

 

“I hope everything works out for Nick. He has until Sunday so I’m sure they can figure something out. He deserves a spot, he ran very well at USAs,” Murphy said on Thursday. 

 

For Murphy, a chance to compete in Beijing is a reality that couldn’t have seemed possible at the start of the year. 

 

Entering 2015, his PR in the 800 was a meager 1:50.03, and he only started focusing on the event full-time this season. His breakout performance came at NCAA indoors in March, where he finished third in a 1:47.06 PR in his first time qualifying for the event. Murphy would replicate that finish at NCAA outdoors in June, but it was his remarkable fourth place finish two weeks later at USAs that really put his name on the map. The Akron sophomore ran personal bests in every round, with his 1:45.59 in the final leaving him just a quarter of a second away from the top three. 

 

“Everything just kind of built up, learning how to race collegiately, and at USAs learning how to race some of the better guys in the World. Fixing everything I did last year and adding to it,” Murphy said. 

 

With Akron coach Lee LaBadie’s training recipe of more mileage and quicker speed work allowing for his huge breakthrough, Murphy’s momentum didn’t stop at USAs. In the 800 final at the Pan American Games in Toronto on July 23rd, Murphy stormed past Colombia’s Rafith Rodriguez in the last 50 meters to win gold in 1:47.19. It was his first international competition.

Clayton Murphy won gold in the Pan Am 800 on July 23rd

Now, as the 20-year-old sat in his hotel room the day before he was scheduled to race at his second international meet, the NACAC Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica, he addressed the possibility of his unbelievable season culminating in Beijing at the IAAF World Championships. 

 

Even with the chance to represent his country on the sport’s biggest stage, albeit under unique circumstances, Murphy is hoping that Symmonds is able to compete in Beijing.

 

“I think it’s more beneficial for everybody if Nick gets the spot he deserves. I’d really almost be more disappointed for him to not go than I am excited about going. I was fourth, I wasn’t third so he deserves the spot completely,” he said.  

 

While a dream season continues to unfold for Murphy, the clock reads 48 hours before Nick Symmonds must sign the deal with USATF or be left off the team for Worlds. While this presents an incredible opportunity for the 20-year-old Murphy, he’s hoping that the dispute doesn’t have to come to that.  

 

“I am not going to deny the spot…but I’m going to be disappointed if he can’t represent the United States like he should be able to.”