University of Tennessee Athletics
Bailey Presented 50th Ed Murphey Award
February 18, 2015 | Track & Field
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Track and Field senior standout Tavis Bailey was recognized as the recipient of the 50th annual Ed Murphey Award during a timeout at Tuesday's Vol basketball contest against No. 1 Kentucky.
Since 1965, former Vol track star Ed Murphey -- the SEC champion in the mile from 1955-57 -- has presented a plaque for the most noteworthy performance from the previous year's track and field season. Murphey passed away in October of 2014 at the age of 78. On hand to present the award last night were two of Murphey's children, Eddie Murphey and Lisa Murphey Blakley.
A native of Kannapolis, North Carolina, Bailey is the recipient of the distinction for the second time in his career on Rocky Top. He first won the award after his freshman season in 2012. Bailey is coming off a junior outdoor season in which he broke his own school record in the discus with a throw of 211 feet, eight inches (64.51 meters) at last season's Tennessee Challenge. At that same meet, Bailey established another personal best in the shot put at 63 feet, 3.5 inches (19.29 meters) to move into fourth all-time at UT in the event.
Bailey went on place sixth in both the discus and the shot put at the SEC Outdoor Championships and advanced all the way to the NCAA Championships after placing sixth in the discus at the NCAA East Regional.
Following his strong for the Volunteers, Bailey went on to represent Team USA at the NACAC Under-23 Championships last summer in Canada. He brought home a silver medal in the discus for the Red, White, and Blue, posting a mark of 57.37 meters.
Back in action in 2015, Bailey has enjoyed considerable success during the indoor season. He ranks second in the SEC and eighth nationally in the men's weight throw (71-11.50/21.93) following a career-best effort at last weekend's Tyson Invitational. He is also fifth in the SEC in the shot put (62-8.50/19.11).
