SPORTS
STORM CENTER COLUMN: Martinez makes waves in Iowa
Sam Martinez has hit her stride.
Martinez is a former Bowie High School athlete. For the Lady Rabbits, she began her scholastic career playing volleyball, tennis and softball.
But, she fell in love with running and cross country has become her passion.
These days, Martinez is a double major at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, studying both philosophy and Spanish.
This past November, Martinez burst onto the national scene with a 19th-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Division III Championships at Kings Island Golf Center in Mason, Ohio.
Martinez covered the 6-kilometer course in 22 minutes, 17.5 seconds, which was good enough for 19th spot in a field of 275 runners.
Because Martinez placed inside the top-20, she was named an All-American. This marks the first time a Cornell women’s cross country runner has achieved such status.
Not bad since this was the first time Martinez competed at the national meet. This was Cornell’s second highest individual finish ever.
“Sam was not even top-100 in the region two years ago, and now she is top-20 in the nation and an All-American,” Cornell head coach Dan Schofer said. “She has worked hard and earned everything she’s gotten this season.”
This was one of the few occasions in which Martinez was speechless.
“After crossing the finish line at the National meet in Ohio, I didn’t have words to express how I felt,” she said. “That race was just incredible. I don’t remember much, but the start and the finish.”
Martinez remembered coach Schofer yelling at her to stay with the lead pack, and that she was in prime position to do something memorable. Read more in the weekend Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Cornell College student-athlete Sam Martinez competes for the Rams. (Courtesy photo from Cornell Sports Information/Kerry Kahl)
Nearly 600 youngsters signed up for this season of youth baseball sports through the BSA. The group celebrated with awards this past week and introduction of all its teams. See all the awards and photos from the night in the mid-week Bowie News. (Photos by Barbara Green)
The 2024 Summer Olympics is just a few weeks away taking place in Paris. The opening ceremonies will be July 26 and are planned to be unique as they take place along the Seine River that flows through Paris. Thomas Bach prepared this op-ed to welcome the world to Paris.
By Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee
The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is only days away. The excitement gripping this nation is palpable.
As this unique festival of sport draws closer, we all are feeling that France and the French people are ready to welcome the world’s best athletes with the hospitality and passion for sport for which they are famous all around the world.
Already millions of people have greeted the Olympic flame on its journey around France with a huge wave of enthusiasm. All of us are looking forward to an unforgettable celebration of Olympic sport and French culture in the coming weeks.
Read the full story in the mid-week sports in your Bowie News.
Saint Jo’s Firecracker 5K welcomed 100 runners for its 16th year on July 4th.
According to runsignup.com, Old Jo’s Firecracker 5K saw 100 runners of all ages register to kick off in downtown Saint Jo.
Brayden Willett, 14, Nocona, was the top male finisher with a time of 19:02.6. Sarah Rainey, 35, Saint Jo, was the top female finisher with 21:47.1.
In the male nine and under division, I. Miller, nine, Muenster, repeated his first place win from 2023 with at time of 34:52.8. E. Thomas, eight, no town listed, also repeated her win with a time of 31:58.5.
Emry Raney-Cavnar, 14, Ardmore, OK, won the male 10-14 group and E. Christensen, 11, Decatur, took the female race. In the male 15-19 division Luke Gehrig, 17, Muenster, won, while Sophia Christensen, 15, Decatur, took the ladies’ title.
See all the results and more photos in the weekend Bowie News.
Special appreciation to Jennifer Gaston Panther Photography for use of her photos.
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