Frank Murphy

When Frank Murphy was educated by the Christian Brothers at O’Connell Schools in Dublin his main interest was Gaelic football and he only joined Clonliffe Harriers Athletic Club to help his fitness. He went on to win the Irish schools intermediate 880 yd title in 1963, and Irish schools senior 880 yd and mile titles in 1965. From there Murphy went to Villanova University on an athletics scholarship and was NCAA indoor 880 yd champion in 1969. At the NCAA championships he was also a member of a Villanova team that twice won the indoor medley relay title as well as winning the cross-country team title on three occasions. Back at home Frank Murphy won 13 Irish titles on the track; 800 m (1970, 1972, 1976), 1500 m (1967-71) and mile (1966-67, 1969, 1971-72). In England he won the junior 880 yd and senior 1,500 m at the AAA championships in 1965 and 1969 respectively.

Murphy was Ireland’s fourth sub-four minute miler, after running 3:58.6 in Philadelphia on 1 June 1968. Along with competing in the 1,500 m at the 1968 Olympic Games, and 800 m and 1,500 m at the 1972 Olympics Games, Murphy won a silver medal at the 1969 European championships in the 1,500 where he set an Irish record and won another silver medal (1,500 m) at the 1970 European indoor championships. In 2014 he was inducted into the Athletics Ireland Hall of Fame.

Personal Bests: 800 – 1:47.4y (1969); 1500 – 3:38.5 (1972).