Kipyego Edges Murphy In Battle Of Rhode Island 800m Greats

Youtube race video by OceanStateRunning.com

In a time trial race on Sunday between two of Rhode Island's greatest middle distance runners of all-time in St. Raphael Academy junior Darius Kipyego and Classical senior Conor Murphy, the race lived completely up to the billing and more.

After having a pacer take them thru the first 400 meters in roughly 53 seconds, it was up to the two state champions to battle it out for the final lap. Kipyego held the lead over initially before Murphy came up to challenge him on the outside at 600 meters and then appeared to gain the advantage off the final turn.

However, the state record holder Kipyego was able to rally back on the outside on the final stretch to just nip Murphy at the line for a 1:51.25 hand-timed win. Murphy finished right behind in second place at 1:51.57.

Neither time was a personal best for both runners as the University of Virginia commit Conor Murphy has run 1:50.43 from last spring, while the 2019 Pan-American U20 Championships silver medalist Kipyego has run 1:49.46 state record best.

Nonetheless, a great show and effort put on by two of Rhode Island's all-time greats during these trying times to get the level of training, coaching, and competition would have during a regular track season.