Bloomington South school record, state medal chase fuels Murry Ross-Harman in 400

Even with spiking gas prices, Murry Ross-Harman has no interest in saving any fuel.

When he reaches the finish line after his 400, the Bloomington South senior wants to know he's truly on 'E' and locked into his highest gear.

Ross-Harman was a state qualifier last year and wound up 12th in a career best 49.94 and yet...

"Overall, I realized from state last year, what I had left in the tank knowing I could have went faster," Ross-Harman said. "So this year, I've changed up the way that I run my race overall.

"How I proceed to take off and how I finish, and also the training and stretching."

The Panther is the No. 1 seed at Thursday's Bloomington North Sectional by a healthy margin and a big piece of the second seeded 1,600 relay.

50 is just a number

For boys' 400 runners, breaking the 50-second barrier is a hallmark, much like 60 is for girls. He did it for the first time at state while finishing 12th. It took a 49.69 to get on the medal stand, so eliminating that quarter of a second is what he's been after this year.

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"I surprised myself breaking 50," Ross-Harman said. "It's a good milestone and coming into this year with my training, I was able to figure out where I was last year."

However, he's still waiting to find himself under 50 again. His fastest outdoor loop this season, not counting 1,600 relay splits, has been 50.54. But training harder sometimes means dreams deferred until later in the season.

The first half of the season was also unusually chilly, so sprinters had a hard time springing PRs until the first real warm meet of the season.

"I've been anxious," Ross-Harman said. "Since the Edgewood Invite when I went (50.54), I've been very anxious.

"But I know I've done it before and I know I'll do it again. I've just gotta go."

And he's in better position find that extra gear than in the past, considering he had no sophomore season.

Ross-Harman, who also played football, has a college track career in mind as a 200/400 guy. He got an offer from Marian in February and has talked with UIndy, his other top school, as well as a couple of out of state colleges.

"Murry, physically has gotten so much stronger," South coach Larry Williams said. "And he's starting to figure some things out. We're trying some different strategies within the race to see what's best for him."

Running his race

The current school record holder, Daxton Schmidt (49.38) was once told his approach should be, ‘Push, Pace, Position and Pray.’ He eventually found out that he could push himself for all 400 meters and still have plenty left for the front stretch.

His senior year was lost to COVID, but with North's Mason Childers and then JaQualon Roberts, there has always been someone to push and pull Ross-Harman along.

"It's good to have somebody like Reece against him," Williams said. "It's good to know I can't just come out and go easy. There's always somebody there."

Indeed. Roberts didn't come back out for track, focusing on his basketball prospects instead. But another Cougar, Reece Lozano, and Edgewood's Zack Raake have made sure there's a good race waiting for Ross-Harman many times this year.

"I feel better overall," Ross-Harman said. "Not staying with the group from the start, but trying to get ahead of them or if not with the next best runner and staying with them until the last moment, then giving everything I've got."

More:North vs South: Bloomington North's DeDe Eberle glad to be back on the track

Then along came another tall basketball standout from Southport in Nickens Lemba, the 6-foot-7, Usain Bolt type whose long strides produced an outstanding 49.07 (he also went 22.66 in the 200 final). Ross-Harman ended up third, nipped at the wire by .04 by Lozano. Lesson(s) learned.

"I learned that I need to stay within myself," Ross-Harman said. "Breathe. Control my head movement, body language and posture while I'm running.

"Then also change up my spikes. I was missing a few spikes."

Ready to go

It's just another one of those 'little things' to pay attention to in a race that demands a runner's attention for all 50 seconds.

"It makes you realize how quick a second is," Ross-Harman said.

And in a blink, his high school career is nearly over, and as a senior his presence is an important one for the Panthers in a year where gaining traction has been tough.

"Toward the end of the (City Meet), it's hard," Williams said. "They're high school kids getting beat. Guys are hurt and people ae coming off sickness and were pulling them out of things because of fatigue.

"I told the team, 'You know what, I'm going to go sit in the bleachers. You guys have got to figure it out. And Murry figured it out. Murry and a couple other guys stepped up and became big leaders and broke them down at the end."

Sometimes, it's just a matter of doing what needs to be done. No records to be broken. Just get the W and move on. Place over time for the next few weeks, but if he empties the tank, why not both?

"I've been trying to learn about myself in running," he said. "I want to be able to learn how I feel after the race, while still knowing where I could have gone faster and get my last 200 faster, because that's been my struggle lately.

"That's where I'm the slowest. If I can get that faster, I know I can do better."

Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on Twitter @JimGordillo.