The 5-foot-2 senior broke the tape at the MSHSAA Class 4 State Championships, clocking the fastest all-class time of the day in 18:35.78 to finish 26.68 seconds ahead of her next-closest competitor. Unbeaten by a Missouri girl all season, Murnieks won six of seven races last fall and ran the state’s only sub-18 time by a girl with a 17:53.30 at the Class 4 sectionals. She also finished 34th at the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional championships in 18:29.70.
Murnieks has maintained a weighted 4.11 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in cross country and track and field on scholarship at the University of Missouri this fall.
A senior-year transfer from Oregon, Murnieks has donated her time in Salem, Oregon, by serving dinner at Simonka Place women’s shelter and playing piano for Restored Church of Christ, as well as area retirement homes there. In association with the RCC’s youth group, she also donated her time roofing and painting for those in need, performing yard work for the elderly, and fundraising to provide presents for children during the holiday season. She also coached youth soccer and served as a peer tutor before moving to Missouri. Murnieks has since joined the Adult/Youth Choir at South Crysler Restoration church in Independence.
