It doesn’t have to be high school track and field season for Travis Murr to be in the fast lane.
One of the fastest kids at Franklin, the senior plays drums in the school marching band, is part of the indoor drum line and hits the books to the tune of a 3.6 grade-point average.
Even with all that going on, Murr, who runs the 100- and 200-meter dashes and anchors the Grizzly Cubs’ 400 relay, has objectives he would like to achieve before season’s end.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“Last year I was one spot off making it to the state meet (in the 200), which made me want to work harder in the offseason,” Murr said. “But my main motivation is to replace my brother’s school record in the 200 with my own time.”
Brian Murr, a 2012 Franklin graduate and second of Jeff and Ruth Murr’s five children, has held the standard since running a time of 21.74 at the Bill Self Invitational his junior season.
Now one of the Cubs’ volunteer assistant coaches, Brian witnessed little brother gaining ground with a time of 21.98 in Franklin’s season-opening dual meet at Shelbyville on April 4.
Today, the younger Murr competes in four events as the Grizzly Cubs host the annual girls and boys Johnson County meets. Aside from his sprint responsibilities, Travis is long jumping, and he has already produced a top jump of 20 feet, 11 inches this season.
Longtime Grizzly Cubs coach Mike Hall learned long ago that Murr’s aggressive nature makes him a factor in any event he’s in.
“Travis has come back for his senior year the way you want a kid to do. He’s faster. He’s stronger. I think the sky is the limit for him as long as he stays healthy,” Hall said. “He will push himself to compete with the people around him.”
Starting in the fall, Murr will be attending Manchester (Indiana) University, a Division III school and member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference that includes, among others, Franklin College.
Murr will run track for the Spartans and be in the school’s pharmacy program.
In the meantime, he’ll literally continue to march to his own drum.
“I’ve played the drums since sixth grade,” Murr said. “Drumming and track both have their different ways you can apply your skills. Almost everyone loves music, so it is a way to relax.
“But what I love about track is just the competitive aspect of it.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”The Murr file” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Travis Murr
Age: 18
Born: Indianapolis
Family: Parents Jeff and Ruth; brothers Jeff, 26, Brian, 24, and Max, 20; sister Michelle, 22
Favorite TV show: “Impractical Jokers”
Favorite food: Cinnamon rolls
2016 postseason: 100-meter dash (3rd at Columbus North Sectional, 8th at Franklin Regional); 200 (4th at sectional, 5th at regional)
[sc:pullout-text-end]
