Clayton Murphy, who earned bronze in the Rio Olympic Games 800m at the age of 21, has joined the Nike Oregon Project. He was previously coached by Lee Labadie, his college mentor at the University of Akron in Ohio, though he moved to Eugene, Oregon, in May of this year. The coaching change comes after attempting an 800m/1500m double at the 2017 USATF Championships and failing to qualify for worlds in either event.

Murphy will move to Portland this fall to train at the Nike headquarters with Matthew Centrowitz, the Rio Olympic gold medalist over 1500m. 

"This is the right time as I begin to focus on building toward the World Championships in 2019 and Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020," Murphy said in a press release. "I am extremely excited to start working with the Oregon Project staff and to train with athletes like Mo, Galen and Matthew. The training environment and support system is a great fit for me and I am confident it will help me achieve my athletic goals."

Another new signee this year is Ole Miss All-American Craig Engels, who has said he will work primarily with NOP assistant coach Pete Julian, not Alberto Salazar. Murphy's press release did not indicate a coach by name.

Imagine this DMR or 4xmile with @Clayton_Murph joining NOP (Centro, Clayton, and Jenkins and Rowbury). #yeeet

— Craig Engels (@craigathor) August 23, 2017

"I want to thank Coach LaBadie for everything he has done for me," Murphy said of his college mentor. "He has been instrumental in my success as an athlete to date. Most importantly, I want to thank him for how he has helped in my development as a person. I cannot say enough about everything he has done for me."

LaBadie stated that he is "excited to see Clayton move to such an elite training group as the Oregon Project. He has a great future in our sport as an individual and an American. We all at Akron wish him the very best."

​Watch the FloTrack FloFilm, Clayton Murphy: No Limits below: