Tommy Murdock hurdles to a lasting legacy

Tommy Murdock was feeling a bit run-down at the recent Washington State 2B Track-and-Field Championships.

But, in the end, it was his challengers in two hurdles title heats who felt run down.

Murdock overcame illness to capture the 110- and 300-meter hurdles crowns in Yakima, repeating the success he had enjoyed at state trials the year before.

"He got pushed at state this year," La Conner head coach Peter Voorhees said of Murdock, "but he was in control."

Which has been the case since 2022, when as a sophomore Murdock won the first of his five gold medals, placing first in the 300s. He might well have won the 110s that year if not for a false start.

"Tommy never false started again," Voorhees said.

Murdock, even when under the weather, has been a model of consistency for the La Conner track program, joining alums Jamal James and Matty Lagerwey as elite performers during Voorhees' tenure.

"Jamal, Matty and Tommy are the three who have racked up the (state) championships," Voorhees said.

Murdock did so with incredible technique.

"He's super smooth," Voorhees said. "People in the know recognize that he has great form."

This year, with the help of assistant coach Rob Lawson, Murdock fine-tuned his starts and sprints. That helped him establish a new school mark in the 110s at 14.6 seconds.

Murdock also placed at state in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He was seventh in the 100 and placed third in the 200.

"We held Tommy out of the 4x400 relay this season," Voorhees said, "and I think by concentrating on the sprints that it translated to the 110 hurdles."

Neither illness nor a strong field of opponents could stop Murdock from finishing his senior campaign on a winning note.

"It speaks to the kind of competitor he is," Voorhees said. "He's always going to find a way (to win)."

Murdock was mentally as well as physically strong for the Braves, especially in his biggest races. He wasn't fazed when other hurdlers false started or fell, said Voorhees.

During his junior year, one of Murdock's state races was delayed several minutes as trainers tended to someone who had broken a leg on the track.

"Waiting like that, in the blocks, is hard to do," Voorhees said. "But Tommy was able to maintain his focus. He has this great ability to stay focused when things are happening around him."

Voorhees praised assistant Emily Souders' work with Murdock and the other La Conner hurdlers, including Murdock's likely 2025 successors Simon Bouwens (110) and Marlin Bralens (300).

When Bouwens and Bralens begin workouts at Whittaker Field next spring, Murdock anticipates moving to the next level, perhaps at Spokane Falls Community College, where Voorhees competed before transferring to the University of Alabama.

The La Conner mentor still has connections with the Spokane Falls staff, which in turn appears eager to welcome an incoming freshman with multiple state championships on his resume.