March 18, 2009

A couple of thoughts backflipped through the mind of Colgate swimmer Emily Murphy when the winners at the Patriot League meet paraded past her two years ago.

Wallowing in the warmdown pool and watching her competitors through teary eyes, Murphy knew that many of the champs were wearing medals that belonged to her. Her vow was that once she shook off the pain from a bad groin injury that had ruined her sophomore season, they would once again be hers.

"It was a rough meet," recalled Murphy, now a senior. "I was like 'I'm not going to be at a meet like this and not win."

Murphy came pretty close to the bull's-eye in her prediction, winning 11 of 15 individual and relay golds at the Patriot League meets her junior and senior years combined. Now, after sinking the swimming equivalent of a last-second shot to qualify for this weekend's NCAA championship meet at Texas A&M, her chances of keeping up with the biggest fishes in her sport can't be easily brushed off.

Murphy qualified for the 100-meter breaststroke with a career-best time of 1 minute, 0.86 seconds during a "last chance" meet in Georgia at the end of February. That slots her 29th in a field of 39 at the NCAAs.

She will swim Friday morning, with an immediate goal of earning a spot among the top 16 swimmers called back for that evening's finals and consolation heats.

For the complete article by Lindsey Kramer of the Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard click here