Michael Murray PR’s with US Paralympic Team at IPC Athletics World Championships

Related article: Michael Murray to Compete in IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand

Congratulations to Michael Murray — the first American athlete with an intellectual disability to make the US Paralympic Team in over a decade — for his PR of 4:18 in the men’s 1500m World Championship last month on Christchurch.

Michael is currently ranked 13th in the world in the men’s 1500m. He was 6th in his heat and missed out on the finals by one place. Here’s what we saw on ParalympicTV: Through 3 laps Michael was comfortably with the leaders. With 300 to go he made a strong surge and moved up on the outside. Looks as though that cost him and he faded a bit (a la Prefontaine?) and got passed by a few guys down the home stretch. Nothing ventured, nothing gained though, right?!

This excerpt from Notable Performances of the US Paralympic update shows real progress in athletes with intellectual disability being accepted at the highest level of sport:

“Michael Murray has provided the team with motivation and joy. It is a pleasure and honor to work with such a great young man. Michael (T20) may not have advanced but he ran a smart race and improved by over 3 seconds from his best 1500 time.”

Watch the Men\’s T20 Final: Can any of our almost 2000 Facebook supporters run a sub 4:00 1500? Tell us your best time. If you don’t know, hit the track to find out how you stack up.

Watch the Women’s T20 Final: An amazing performance by the silver medalist from Poland who loses her shoe in the first 100 meters, falls to last place and then roars back. Phenomenal perseverance.