Remi Murray has suffered more setbacks than the average high school athlete, yet she has led a remarkable career at Elk City High School.
Recently, she endured a pulled hamstring.
“It’s okay. It’s most likely just a grade 1, nothing serious, and I should be good by our home meet,” Murray said.
That’s good news for the Elkettes track & field team. Murray, who placed third in the pole vault at the state meet last year, is one of the best all-around track athletes in the state. For a team with expectations to win a state championship, her contributions will be essential.
“Our girls team has a really good chance at a state title this year, so I know I have to get 100% healthy so we can go win it,” Murray said, “and with my hip sophomore year, it’s always been my dream to paul vault in college, so I knew I had to work hard. Luckily, Coach [Andy] Peffer is the best coach around and he helped me get where I am.”
Two years ago, Murray suffered an anterior inferior spine avulsion fracture while warming up for a relay.
“I was warming up for the 4×4 and did this tiny little jump to try and stay warm,” Murray told VYPE Magazine last year. “I immediately fell to the ground and could not move it.”
The injury immediately ended a promising sophomore campaign after she placed sixth in the pole vault as only a freshman. It was devastating, but she was certain she’d be back even better for her junior year.
Murray spent that summer training hard, pouring into film, enduring piercing ice baths and whatever she could to be ready for spring 2023.
“Honestly, it meant the world to me to see all the hard work and battling through injuries finally pay off,” Murray told VYPE after her third-place finish at state in 2023. “It’s very rewarding to see the amount of people in the stands cheer as your name is announced while they put a medal around your neck.”
Murray will run the 400m relay and 800m relay for an Elk City team that is so good that Murray’s talents may not even be needed in the last relay, leaving her more energy to focus on taking home gold in the pole vault.
“There’s a few of us that are still competing to be on the 4×4, as we have too many girls who can be really good on it,” Murray said.
The Elkettes inherited a superb freshman class this year, along with some move-ins that will help them be more competitive.
“Our girls team has not been this talented as long as I’ve been in track. We have all the relays running and looking to score big points at the state meet in addition to the individual events as well. We’re all very dedicated and hard-working and want to get some rings together,” Murray said.
While the Elkettes don’t officially have team captains, Murray and her fellow seniors are serving as de facto captains over the young team.
“Especially when we have a hard workout, we need to be encouraging, so it can be a productive workout,” Murray said.
Murray is committed to vault at Southern Nazarene University after she graduates this spring.
“Coach [Mark] Heard is one of the best vault coaches in the nation and everyone there was so nice and welcoming,” Murray said. “They also have a good program for me, as I’m going into pre-med. I just found that it fits me really well.”
