Roommates share All-American experience
June 8, 2012
DES MOINES, Iowa – Texas Men’s Track & Field has scored 19 points to stand in seventh place after three days of the NCAA Championships thanks to All-American performances by roommates Marquise Goodwin and Isaac Murphy. Goodwin captured his second collegiate national championship in the long jump with a personal best jump of 8.23m (27-0) on Wednesday, jumping over 8.10m four times, including his first jump of 8.19m (26-10.75) that put him in first place for the duration. "It was a good series," said Goodwin. "During warm-ups I felt good, but during the 4x100 (relay) we had a little mishap and it kind of pushed me a little bit. It kind of gave me an extra edge today. It's just one of those things that happens, but I tried to build off of it. I tried to put it behind me as fast as I could with limited time. I came out here and did what I needed to do today to get 10 points for the team." Murphy has been one of the top decathletes in the nation all season long and had really come into his own this season in his third collegiate campaign. He would end up scoring 7,818 points for seventh place and his first career All-American honor. It is a goal that both athletes have talked about all season long while living together in Austin. “We have talked a lot,” said Goodwin. “I always tell him that he has what it takes to win a national championship. With him being my roommate and my best friend we share everything together. I see him every day and we stay on each other. We talk about being an All-American all the time. I have been waiting for someone to share that with and it is a blessing for both of us to be an All-American.” Goodwin has enjoyed success at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships with two national titles in three years but it hasn’t been until this year that Murphy tasted the same success.
“Making an All-American has eluded me in the last couple of years so Marquise has always reminded me of my goal so I didn’t lose sight of it,” said Murphy. “He would remind me about working hard to get what I want.” It is that support for each other that motivates each to do well in competition. A support that has been a common theme amongst the athletes on the men’s track & field squad. “If I ever don’t believe in myself, Marquise believes in me,” said Murphy. “We always pick each other up whenever we can.” Murphy helped Goodwin out during the indoor season this year when Goodwin was struggling with juggling being a two-sport collegiate athlete in football and track while also maintaining a GPA that placed him on the Big 12 All-Academic team. “He picked me up during the indoor season,” said Goodwin. “I was going through offseason football, track practice, school and life and it was tough to balance everything. It was hectic. He always supported me in everything I did and was lifting my spirits up.” The two athletes spend a lot of time together as neither athlete leaves the house much to do a lot in the evenings. The two enjoy having friends over and just hanging out and having dinner. The bond they have built has helped both become among the best athletes in the nation in their respective events. “Both of us are homebodies,” said Murphy. “We enjoy being in the house and resting. We train hard and just go home to eat and relax.” |
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