Nomadic sprinter finds sweet home on Liberty’s track

David Becker / Special to the Home News

Liberty High School’s Shawn Murray leads the way in a pan-action photograph during track practice at Liberty.

By Brett Okamoto (contact)

Monday, March 30, 2009 | 5 p.m.

After bouncing between four high schools in four years, Liberty senior Shaun Murray is sick of nobody knowing his name.

This track season he is hoping to change that by putting his name in a spot where it hopefully won't move for a long time — the record books.

"I don't feel like most people know of me because I've moved schools so much," Murray said. "I want to be known after high school, I don't want to leave it unknown. As a senior, I'm ready to do something big."

Last year while running for Arbor View, Murray qualified for Sunset Regionals with a 10.5 hand time in the 100-meter dash midway through the season, which translates to a 10.74 official electric time. He would need to lower that by about two tenths of a second to make his way into Liberty's record book — the record is 10.6 set by Dayo Igeleke in 2005.

Liberty sprint coach Jason Lam said athletes pursuing a record in commonplace each year. So when he first heard of the newcomer Murray's goal before the first track practice, he figured it was just another kid mouthing off.

"When I first saw him, I thought he was just one of those cocky kids that think they're faster than they are," Lam said. "But after I got to know him I saw that he's a good kid with a good heart. I get kids all the time that say they want to be state champ and break the record but with him I think anything less than a state championship is a bad season. The bar is set and we know what we have to do and I think he can get it."

The two have become inseparable, so much so that Lam calls it destiny that Murray ended up at Liberty for his senior year. Although Murray has always had breakaway speed, he's never possessed the type of technique that could get him to elite times.

As a second-year coach, Lam couldn't be more enthusiastic to teach him.

"I get real excited to see him run, it makes me wish I could still run," Lam said. "I wish I could jump in a relay with him. He reminds me a lot of myself, he's just an unbelievable kid. I was just lucky to get him, for it to be his fourth school in four years it must be destiny that he came here."

In Liberty's first meet of the year, Murray got off to a terrific start by posting a 10.6 hand time in a first place finish against Green Valley High. It was proof to both he and Lam that their hard work is paying off, as he started off last season with a 11.2 and missed qualifying for the state tournament at regionals.

"I was expecting to be somewhere in the elevens, because that's where I was running last year," Murray said. "But to start off with a 10.6? At first I was kind of surprised it was that low. If I shave off as much as I did last year again, that will be kind of crazy. "

Murray says he can run better than he did in that first meet. If that's true, nothing should stop him from making a trip to the state championships this year and maybe even the record books.

"It was frustrating last year because sometimes I would run a good time and then the next week I'd have a bad time and I'd be confused," Murray said. "Now that I've learned the technique, it's going to more constant this year and about shaving time off. It would be exciting going to the state championships for the 100, I just hope I don't forget what to do when I get there."

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.