Clayton Murphy earns the USA's first medal in the 800 since 1992

RIO DE JANEIRO — From raising show pigs on the family farm in tiny New Paris, Ohio, population 1,629, to a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, the USA’s Clayton Murphy capped an improbable rise with a remarkable race in the 800 meters on Monday.

Just 21 years old, Murphy ran the race of his life finishing that distance in 1 minute, 42.93 seconds, just behind silver medalist Taoufik Makhloufi (1:42.61) of Algeria and world record-holder and two-time gold medalist David Rudisha (1:42.15) of Kenya, who is perhaps the greatest runner ever in the 800.

Murphy's 1:42.93 made him the third-fastest American ever, and buried his previous personal best (1:44.30).

“There was a little bit of plan to get out hard and go after it. But there wasn’t a super deadset plan. It was just to have fun with it,” Murphy said. “I knew we were out fast. … I was just going to keep pushing, pushing, pushing.”

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It was the USA’s first medal in this event since Johnny Gray took bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Just four years ago as a junior in high school, Murphy’s personal best in the 800 was 1:56. “At that point I was far away from Rudisha,” he said.

Murphy was a strong but unheralded high school runner but didn’t run in the major events for high school runners such as Foot Locker, Nike and New Balance nationals.

“I was not as serious about running as I am now,” Murphy said.

University of Akron cross country coach Lee LaBadie saw potential and recruited him. LaBadie gave Murphy detailed workouts and race plans and by the end of his college career, Murphy was one of top 800 runners in the USA, and he is the reigning NCAA champ at 1,500..

“He told, ‘The time’s will come. The time’s will get there.’ Today proved that,” Murphy said.

He won the 800 at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in early July to qualify for Rio. Simply advancing to the 800 final was his main goal.

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“I don’t know if (winning a medal) ever was a reality,” Murphy said. “The big goal I had was making the final. A medal for me was going to be icing on the cake. I just wanted to have fun with it, and enjoy the minute and 40-some seconds I was out on the track. You never know how many times you’re going to run in the Olympics. It’s super exciting.”

Murphy has a promising future. Mid-20s has historically been the age when runners peak in the 800. But he’s also very good in the 1,500 and could focus on that distance. But those decisions are for another day.

He wanted to eat. “Whatever’s in the village tonight,” Murphy said.

He wanted to sleep. “I’m super tired,” Murphy said.

And he wanted to do what anybody who just won a medal should do.

“Right now,” Murphy said, “it’s just enjoying the moment.”

TRACK AND FIELD AT THE RIO OLYMPICS