Throughout Steve Murdock’s career with the Syracuse track and field team, the injuries piled up. For Murdock, a senior, those included thigh problems, broken ribs, broken bones, sacrum issues and an Achilles injury that required surgery.

Enough missed time ensued that he now calls himself a sophomore.

‘Just everything,’ Murdock said of his injury-prone past. ‘I’ve had countless injuries every year.’

All from running. Yet those injuries have done little to stop him from being one of SU head coach Chris Fox’s most talented distance runners on SU this season.

With Murdock healthy for the most part, the Orange will look to him to provide top numbers for the distance runners. Healthier and coming off a season in which he qualified for the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America competition — the step between Big East and national qualification — the expectations for Murdock are to accomplish something special.

‘He’s definitely one of the top distance runners on the team,’ fellow distance runner Robert Molke said. ‘He’s been through a lot of struggles, but he’s overcome all of them, and he’s really someone you look to to learn from.’

For Fox and for the team as a whole, expectations are higher. Many performers expect themselves to qualify beyond the Big East championships.

And that starts with Murdock. Though he does not have as much experience as other seniors, he still hopes to qualify for nationals.

When asked what he wants to accomplish this season, he starts rattling off times for multiple events. Under 8:15 for the 3K race in the IC4As in Boston. Under 14:20 for the 5K in the IC4As. And eventually, close to 4:05 in the mile run.

‘I’ve been pretty inconsistent with injuries, so staying healthy would be a big accomplishment,’ Murdock said. ‘I’d like to make regionals in outdoor and possibly even nationals if I can qualify.’

Fox said he expects a lot out of Murdock because he’s now one of the senior members of his team. Along with fellow distance runner Steve Weeks, Fox said the two Steves should be contenders at the Big East championships. And this season, the goal is more.

‘The ultimate goal for them is to qualify for the NCAA regionals,’ Fox said.

Qualifying for those regionals or even scoring points in the Big East championships would be a big deal for Murdock. He knows he can do it. Fox knows he can do it.

But he can’t have injuries holding him back. Not again.

‘I’m not completely healthy,’ Murdock said. ‘I have some issues with my sacrum, but other than that I’m pretty healthy.’

One of the nagging injuries that plagued Murdock was iliotibial band syndrome, one of the most common injuries for distance runners.

Without much injury concern for Murdock this season, Molke expects Murdock to reach his lofty goals. But if he doesn’t, Molke knows Murdock offers more than just results. His value stretches off the field, too.

Murdock is one of the oldest members on the team. That leaves the younger runners, such as the sophomore Molke, to take advantage of the senior’s wisdom.

‘He’s been through everything that I haven’t really been through yet,’ Molke said, ‘so he’s the guy to go to to ask questions.’

Murdock and Molke are only two of the men’s distance runners with goals reaching further than Syracuse into the Big East, regional and national meets. Molke said the team is building its strength and endurance so it will be prepared for the latter part of the season and not be worn out.

As the season wears on, qualifying times are crucial for outdoor competitions. For indoors, having one of the fastest times places a runner higher on a list, giving the runners a better shot at being selected for the bigger meets.

‘I think a lot of us have a good shot at that list and getting up as high as possible,’ Molke said of the indoor season.

‘And then for outdoors,’ he said, ‘a lot of the guys on our team, since we’re going to be geared for the end of the season, will be ready for the end of the season.’

Murdock hopes to be one of those guys. And he expects to be one of those guys as long as he stays healthy.

The injuries, for the most part, are in the past. Though Murdock won’t say he’s 100 percent this season, Fox expects him to be at the top.

‘It’s (his) time,’ Fox said. ‘We’re really looking for (him) to have a good output this season.’

Murdock has shown flashes of his potential that had previously been hidden beneath all of his injuries. Last year, in addition to qualifying for the IC4As, he placed fourth in the mile at the Cornell Upstate Challenge.

Murdock has small goals in store for himself and the team that will lead to bigger moments. He said the team wants to drop its times in every category and thinks it’s a possibility.

He also raves about the freshman class and its impressive showing at this early point in the season. Even though Murdock won’t be running with them after this season, he knows the future of the team is capable of continuing the success of the individuals and teams of recent years. Another one of his goals is bringing along that freshman class.

And he has big goals as well. This is his last year to do what he has tried to do since he got to SU: perform at his highest level and not get injured.

‘Now that I’m a senior, I should be able to meet the potential that coaches have in store for me,’ Murdock said.

Molke has no doubts about Murdock competing up to his potential and fulfilling those goals. He believes in his abilities and knows Murdock himself does, too. He hopes this is the year Murdock can put those injuries behind and show everyone what they’ve been missing.

‘Especially for Steve Murdock,’ Molke said of the high expectations of Murdock. ‘It’s his last season, and he’s got a lot to accomplish still, so he’s going to try to get it done.’

rnmarcus@syr.edu

 

Published on February 7, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Rachel: rnmarcus@syr.edu