Natalie Murphy ‘26 recently announced her commitment to the University of Pennsylvania for track and field. With both of her parents being avid runners and her brother also committed to UPenn for track and field, Murphy always felt “destined” for running. Running has been a foundational part of Murphy’s life for as long as she can remember. Before attending Poly, Murphy participated in a cross-country meet, placing second as a freshman. After this achievement, she recognized her potential to compete at a collegiate level. Throughout her running journey, her brother was her “biggest influence,” showing her “what it takes to become a D1 athlete.” He provided an example of the diligence it takes to “get up every single day and do every single thing you need to do to become a good runner, even just the extra stuff like recovery–and strength training.”
The Recruiting Process:
Murphy’s journey to her Division I recruitment wasn’t a straight path. She battled a range of emotions throughout her career at Poly. Specifically, she felt she did not run to her fullest potential in her sophomore year, but she quickly regained her confidence after a strong season in cross country. Amid the pressure of perfecting emails and footage, making phone calls with college recruiters who wield the ability to shape her future, and the constant effort to impress coaches, the process was anything but easy. But the moment she met the coach from UPenn–whom her brother admires–she felt an instant connection: “I have to go there, that’s where I want to go.” This sense of belonging solidified during her first visit to UPenn, after joining the members of the women’s track team for dinner. It became clear that UPenn was the right place for her, so once the coach offered her a spot on the team, Murphy immediately said yes. When asked about her biggest motivators to push through the hardships of her journey, she answered: “I know the way to success is consistency.” Murphy revealed that this mindset has nourished her strength both on the track and in the classroom. Along with this mindset, she shared how she finds motivation in impressing herself and her family.
The Routine of a D1 Athlete:
Murphy revealed that her pre-meet routine is influenced by her superstitions. Going into every track meet, she wears the same socks, which she washes every weekday. She also focuses on herself by putting on a pair of headphones and stretching. Rough races can also be mentally challenging for a runner as the sport puts all the weight of performance on one individual, who does not have a team to rely on in the way other sports do. For Murphy, “talking it through” with her parents and coach helps her relieve stress after facing pressure from racing. After every meet, she takes her recovery seriously by stretching and relaxing.
Her Future at UPenn:
UPenn’s Division I track and field program, combined with its rigorous Ivy League academic environment, produces student-athletes who are among the best in their field. Specifically, Murphy plans to pursue engineering, which will be challenging to balance with a commitment to the track team. Yet, she finds comfort in the unwavering support of her coaches and teammates, along with the belief that exercise enhances her academic performance. She describes the community within UPenn’s track team as what makes it most “unique”. “Everyone wants everyone to succeed,” she remarked. “No one is competing
against each other.” In terms of her goals for her collegiate career, she hopes to become one of her school’s top seven runners to score for her team. Outside of track, she hopes to find her passion in the engineering realm. She is also excited to participate in the “active campus,” which has a robust student life and is close to Philadelphia. There is no doubt Murphy will achieve great things in her final year at Poly and throughout her collegiate career.
