BLOOMINGTON –Vincennes University sophomore Robert Murphy added to his string of accolades during the 2015 season Saturday when he established a new NJCAA season mark and shattered his own VU school record in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase at the Billy Hayes Invitational, hosted by Indiana University.

In addition to Murphy’s victory, the Trailblazers added totheir list of qualifiers for the upcoming NJCAA Outdoor National Championships in Hutchinson, KS, while some VU athletes who had already qualified were able to better their marks for the national championship event.

Murphy is a former standout in both track and cross country at WCHS.

“Robert has been arecord-breaking machine at VU,” Coach Chris Gafner said. “He has set at least one school record in every outdoor meet he has run this year. He’s really competing at a high level right now and it’s exciting to be a part of.”

Murphy topped the field in the Steeplechace with a time of 8:57.59. The time broke his previous school record by 16 seconds and places him atop the NJCAA scene by 12 seconds over his nearest competitor.

But Murphy wasn’t alone in impressing onlookers and earning Gafner’s praise on Saturday. Sierra Brown qualified for the national meet with an effort of 18 feet, 7.75 inches, to finish second in the Long Jump. Two other new national championship entrants for VU after Saturday’s meet are Jordan Feuerstein in the High Jump (6 feet, 8 inches; sixth place) and Kelly O’Shea in the Steeplechase (12:08.53; sixth place).

“Sierra really brought her A game,” Gafner said. “She had three jumps that bettered her personal best and she really moved up the NJCAA list. Jordan had, by far, his best meet of the year. He sailed over (6 feet, 8 inches) on his first attempt and I’m really glad to see him get the breakthrough because I know how bad he wanted to make it to Nationals.

“Kelly and I decided (for her) to do the steeplechase on a whim,” the coach continued. “She really hasn’t been training for it so it was great to see her qualify the first time out. She is just a really tough runner.”