Dave Murray UA track and field head coach

After 35 years at the UA, track and field head coach Dave Murray will retire after this season.

Murray, the so-called Dean of Arizona athletics, has held the longest tenure as a coach in UA history.

"We just had our last home meet, and it really didn't feel any different," Murray said. "But people started coming up to me after the meet to congratulate me, and it really started to sink in."

But, in typical Murray fashion, this year was a perfect representation of his coaching expertise.

In the first half of the season, which was the indoor events, Murray coached his women to a season-ending No. 5 ranking, according to the Trackwire 25 Poll.

For the women, the indoor season was highlighted by sophomore pole vaulter Amy Linnen, who set the current NCAA indoor record at the indoor championships with her first-place finish and vault of 14-10.

Senior sprinter Brianna Glenn was also a force to be reckoned with again this year.

Glenn has been the staple for the Wildcats all year. Glenn received All-American honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships in both the 60m and the 200m.

Glenn has also set the Drachman Stadium record in the 100m with her time of 11.36 and she successfully defended her 200m title at the Drake Relays.

"There's no question Brianna will be able to perform at the next level. She's a classic example of the talent it takes," Murray said.

Senior Tara Chaplin has been Arizona's top distance runner all season long. With her solid consistency in the 5,000m and 10,000m, Chaplin has become one of the senior leaders.

She was one of three UA athletes to qualify for and compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships this year and successfully qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 10,000m.

Chaplin's time of 33:30.59 at the Mt. Sac Relays will give her one shot at taking home the title at the championships.

For the men, senior Mike Kenyon had an outstanding year. While running the 200m and 400m, Kenyon competed in the NCAA Indoor Championships and is qualified for the Outdoor Championships in the 400m.

Kenyon won the 200m at the Drake relays and in the season's final home meet, Kenyon placed first in both the 100m and 200m.

This was also Kenyon's first time competing in the 100m.

"Kenyon has had just a fantastic year. He ran one of the fastest 400m times in the country this year," said UA assistant coach Fred Harvey, who will be taking over for Murray after the season.

Murray said he knows how important all these seniors have been to the team and they will "very much be missed by all of us."

Freshmen Jeff Hunter and Sean Shields have both had impressive years, continually impressing their coaches with their rapid development.

Hunter has qualified for the Pac-10 Championships in both the 110m high hurdles and the 400m intermediate hurdles.

Hunter is also part of the 4x100m relay team, who has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Thrower Sean Shields broke the UA freshman shot put record in three consecutive meets during the indoor season. His record toss now stands at 62-4.

Shields also competed in the NCAA Indoor Championships and has a Pac-10 qualifying throw in the discus with a mark of 176-5.

Another bright spot in the Wildcats' year has been the performance of Mike Mortensen.

Although Mortensen has come on primarily in the outdoor season, he will definitely be a bright spot in this team's future.

Mortensen showed his talent in the Drake Relays, when he took home the title in the pole vault with his tremendous leap of 17-6.

Murray said he is proud of the accomplishments his team made this year, but knows there's still some work left to be done.

"We still have the major portion of the season left, with the NCAA and Pac-10 championships, but we've had some outstanding marks and many highlights this season," Murray said. "This could be one of the best seasons we've had in the past few years."