Wyatt Murphy only just started competing in the decathlon this past summer, but the Poplar Bluff senior plans to compete in the 10-event competition as a member of the U.S. Air Force Academy track and field team.
"It's something I always wanted to do, always wanted to serve in the military," Wyatt said. "Figured I might as well get my college education and also be an officer in the Air Force simultaneously. Best of both, and get to run track for the Academy.
"I didn't think I'd be able to get a collegiate Division I track scholarship. It all worked out I guess."
Wyatt, who signed his letter of intent in November and was accepted into the Academy in January, competed in decathlons during the summer. For the Mules track team, Wyatt runs sprints and jumps.
The decathlon features the 110-meter hurdles, 100, 400 and 1,500 runs, long and high jumps, shot, discus and javelin throw and pole vault. During the indoor season athletes compete in the heptathlon.
Murphy has always been one to take on more than one thing at a time between studies, athletics and community service. Going to the Academy while also competing at the Division I level will be an easy transition said Mules track and field coach Mark Barousse.
"It's not going to be a whole lot different for Wyatt," Barousse said. "Wyatt's got so many irons in the fire anyway."
Wyatt added the decathlon this past summer when he competed at the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico, placing eighth in his age division. He was the runner-up at the USATF Region 9 Championships, qualifying for the National Junior Olympic championships at Lawrence, Kansas in July.
Wyatt placed 11th in the national meet with 5,857 points, a 520-point increase from earlier in the summer. He won the 400 and was third in both the 100 and high jump events but finished 20th out of 22 in the shot, 19th in the discus and 17th in the javelin.
"I'm awful at throwing," Murphy said. "I'm good at jumping and running but that's about it."
Murphy helped the Mules 400-meter relay earn all-state honors in 2016 and reach the state semifinal last May.
Murphy missed qualifying for the MSHSAA state meet in the 100 by 0.02 of a second, placing fifth at the sectional meet last season and was also seventh in the long jump with a leap of 20-feet, 4-inches.
Murphy placed second at the district meet in the 100 in 11.19 seconds, running a 11.17 in the prelim.
As a freshman, he cleared 6-feet to place fourth in the high jump at districts and was edged on attempts at qualifying for state.
"Naturally he was a high jumper and a long jumper, ran the 100 and the 400," Barousse said. "He excelled in those things. When he learns how to throw the discus, the javelin and the shot, I think he'll be a really good college decathlete."
Murphy credited coach Lance Bell for getting him started in the decathlon.
"I was his experiment this summer and he succeeded I think," Murphy said.
At the national meet he threw the shot 32-4.25, the discus 85-1 and javelin 101-2.
"I'm going to focus on my weak points mainly but I want to better myself in every way," Murphy said. "I guess whenever you training for the decathlon you can't focus on one thing. You have to be well rounded."
That includes running sprints and long distances.
"I like the 400, I like the long distance sprints. I hate the 1,500," Murphy said. "I despise it, but it's the last thing and I dread it, but once I'm done with it I feel pretty accomplished. But it's awful."
Going to the Academy will help, he said, training nearly 7,000 feet above sea level.
The Falcons compete in the Mountain West Conference and are led by coach Ralph Lindeman for the past 28 years. In 2017 the Academy won the conference outdoor team title and was second in the indoor championships.
Murphy said he was extremely impressed with the facilities when he visited in the fall.
"I like being there," Murphy said. "I like the people there, they're all super driven and motivated and it was really cool being around them."