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Daniel Murray can literally deliver running victories at will.

The former Blue Earth Area High School cross country and track and field sensation and current Iowa State University running standout recently claimed his third straight annual racing victory.

Murray won the 5K Milk Run at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 30 in Falcon Heights.

Each year Murray has won the event, he has improved his time.

This year, Murray posted a winning time of 16 minutes and 17 seconds - 10 seconds better than runner-up Travis Hoover and the other 567 male finishers.

In 2008, Murray ran to a 16:33 finish, topping Thomas Tisell's 16:46 in the 608 male finisher field.

And in 2007, Murray's first year participating in the event, he won in 16:43 over Chris Brown's runner-up time of 16:50, topping the 569 male finishers in that race.

Ironically, Murray's initial win over Brown in 2007 ended Brown's run of three straight Milk Run titles from 2004-06.

"No I didn't," said Murray when asked if he ever thought he'd win three races in a row.

But as per usual, Murray was in excellent running shape.

"I was training for college cross country, so I was running all summer," said Murray.

But still, there are still plenty of runners in the contest, so it is quite an impressive feat to say the least.

"It felt pretty good to win again. I ran an OK time in 16:17, so I was pretty happy with that," said Murray.

Murray was either at or near the front of the pack the majority of the race.

"For the first mile there were about three of us in the front. The first mile was going fairly easy and I picked it up and led from there," said Murray.

And for the win, Murray claimed his third straight prize - a cowbell for winning the Milk Run.

"It's a friendly environment up in the Cities," Murray said of his fellow runners.

And what about the prospects of picking up a fourth straight victory in 2010?

"I plan on doing it for quite a while yet as long as I keep running and stay healthy. ... It would be exciting to win another one. It's exciting to win a race," said Murray.

But before all that, Murray is ready for another season with the Cyclones.

Murray is coming off an academic All-Big 12 first-team cross country season.

His best finish last year proved to be third at the 3,000-meter run (8:43.89) at the Husker Invitational.

His personal best collegiate time came two years ago at the Husker Invitational, taking eighth place in 8:42.69.

"Hopefully I'll try to do well in that (season-opener last Friday in Des Moines). My goal is to be in the top nine on the team," Murray said on his Iowa State cross country goals.

Another season goal is to run in the 25-minute mark for an 8K race.

Murray has this year and one more season of eligibility remaining, but isn't certain whether or not he will use the second season as he is planning on graduating in May of 2010.

"It kind of depends if I get a job or go to grad school," said Murray.

Murray, the son of Sandra and David Murray, is an agriculture and biosystems engineering major with the intent of working for a tractor and machinery company like John Deere or AGCO.