Murphy – Lady Bulldogs track star Sarah Pullium announced her commitment to the University of North Carolina in Charlotte on May 25.
A standout performer since her freshman year, Pullium had been considering numerous Division I schools before ultimately deciding in favor of the 49ers.
Pullium broke Wendy Moss’ 1989 school record in the discus in her second high school meet, then won both the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A West Regional championship and 1A state championship in the event. She broke her own school record at the state meet, then helped Murphy win its first outdoor track and field state championship since 1995.
Pullium was even better as a sophomore, breaking her own school record in the discus again at the Smoky Mountain Conference meet and finishing in second at the shot put. She took first again in both the 1A West Regional and state championship meets, setting a new school record at state while helping the Lady Bulldogs repeat as state champions.
As a senior, Pullium has already broken her school record in the discus twice. If she adds another state title in the event on June 26, she would become just the third athlete to win the event three times at the 1A level since the state split outdoor track and field into four classifications in 1994.
Pullium has also been a standout athlete in volleyball and girls basketball, being named to the All-Smoky Mountain Conference team the last two years in both sports.
In the Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team’s 76-34 win over Princeton High School in the 1A state championship game, she was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player.