Sophomore pole vaulter Lindsey Murray today announced on social media she will join former SIU coaches and one teammate at the University of Mississippi.

Murray, the indoor and outdoor all-time SIU record holder, finished ninth in the NCAA Indoor Championship last season. 

“I’m not saying the [Southeastern Conference] is better, but it is a higher level of competition,” she said. “Being around a lot more vaulters, the level of competition will push me to go further.” 

Former SIU coach Connie Price-Smith and throws coach John Smith took jobs at Ole Miss on July 21; so did sophomore shot putter Raven Saunders. Former pole vault coach Brian Porter is now also a coach at Ole Miss.

Murray said coaches Price-Smith and Porter were the reasons she chose SIU after high school. 

“I should stay with my gut choice and who I chose from the beginning,” she said. “I knew [they] both ran their programs the way it would best fit me on and off the track.”

Murray will not have to sit out next season because of redshirt restrictions. 

Brent Meske can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @brentmeskeDE.