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)
Landry Norwood has agreed to become the new Head Boys Basketball Coach for Bowie High.
Norwood grew up in Paradise, playing a number of sports for the Panthers during his high school career. With a number of family members still in the area and the position coming open, Norwood applied and was hired.
“I know the tradition up here,” Norwood said. “I was glad (Athletic Director and Head Football) Coach Tyler Price felt he could put his trust in me.”
Bowie’s varsity went 2-10 last year, both wins coming against Vernon. Norwood spent five years as an assistant in Lipan before spending the next four years at Llano, three years as head coach. He said his last two years in Llano were rough after graduation of nine seniors his first year and a 26-7 squad.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News
Nocona came into game two of its Class 2A Division I bi-district series with Archer City looking to rebound from a 17-0 loss in game one.
The Lady Indians took a quick lead but the Lady ‘Cats had too much in the tank and knocked Nocona out of the playoffs courtesy of a 13-3, five-inning victory winning the best of three series, 2-0.
Kylea Wallace reached base on a second baseman’s error. With one out, M’leigha Franklin took a pitch over the wall in left field for a home run, igniting the Lady Indian crowd with a 2-0 lead.
Archer City prevented further damage by retiring the next two hitters. The Lady ‘Cats struck in the bottom of the inning for seven runs.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Culture. It’s a beautiful word.
Bowie Softball Coach Griffin Fields has been trying to install a positive, winning culture since taking over the job. For the first time since 2019, the Lady Rabbits qualified for the postseason, facing District 8 top seed Early in the bi-district round.
After beating the Lady ‘Horns 9-8 in game one of the best-of-three series April 23, Early came back and evened the series less than 24 hours later, 15-0. The Lady Rabbits used the aforementioned culture and got out to a quick lead in game three.
Bowie was then forced to come from behind for the second straight night. Kinley Baker, who had the game winning RBI in game one, came through again in game three and broke a 6-all tie with a single to lift the Lady Rabbits to a 9-6 victory in the finale.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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