Throughout the entire season, Jenna Thurman and Luis Martinez dominated the distance events in the state of New Mexico. Photos by Alan Versaw.
JENNA THURMAN
CHICAGO (June 19, 2013) — In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Jenna Thurman of Del Norte High School as its 2012-13 Gatorade New Mexico Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Thurman is the first Gatorade
New Mexico Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Del Norte High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes Thurman as New Mexico’s best high school girls track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June, Thurman joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Allyson Felix (2001-02, Los Angeles Baptist,Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.),
Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt HS, Ia.) and Bianca Knight (2006-07, Ridgeland HS, Miss.).
The 5-foot-7 senior distance runner won the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:10.00 and the 3200-meter run in 11:33.15 this spring, leading the Knights to a fifth-place finish as a team at the Class AAAA state meet. The 2011-12 Gatorade New Mexico Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, Thurman was the state’s fastest distance runner at the Great
Southwest Classic, earning third place in the 1500-meter run in 4:48.06 as well as the the mile-run in 5:08.60, and finishing fourth in the 3200 with a time of 11:21.56.
Thurman has maintained a 3.96 GPA in the classroom. Also a soccer standout, she is a member of the National Honor Society and has volunteered locally on behalf of the Children’s Cancer Fund and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“Jenna Thurman is a tenacious runner and with an unmatched work ethic,” said Del Norte High distance coach Fred Polich. “She has worked tirelessly to make herself the very best she can be.”
Thurman has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field on an athletic scholarship at Adams State
University this fall.
Thurman joins recent Gatorade New Mexico Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year Gina Okoye (2011-12, Eldorado
High School), Julia Foster (2010–11& 2009-10, Albuquerque Academy), Lesly Torres (2008–09, Los Lunas), Skye Barnett
(2007-08, Cibola), and Alexandra Darling (2006-2007, La Cueva) among the state’s list of former award winners.
LUIS MARTINEZ
CHICAGO (June 20, 2013) — In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Luis Martinez of Sue Cleveland High School as its 2012-13 Gatorade New Mexico Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Martinez is the firstGatorade New Mexico Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Sue Cleveland High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes Martinez as New Mexico’s best high school boys track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June, Martinez joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Meb Keflezighi (1993-94, San Diego HS, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Mark Sanchez (2004-05,
Mission Viejo HS, Calif.) and Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt HS, Ia.).
The 5-foot-10, 135-pound senior distance runner won the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:11.66 and the 3200-meter run in 9:27.55 this spring, leading the Storm to the Class 5A state championship as a team. Also the 2011-12 Gatorade New Mexico Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year, Martinez was a dual state champion for the second straight season and set a new state record in the 1600. He also captured first place in the 3200 at the Great Southwest Classic with a time of 9:28.06.
Martinez has maintained a 4.06 GPA in the classroom. A devoted member of his church community and a peer tutor in his school, he has volunteered locally on behalf of youth track programs.
“Luis Martinez is a very gifted and successful track and field athlete,” said Cleveland High head coach Kenny Henry. “He is obviously naturally blessed with the ability to run but is also extremely hard-working, highly positive and he is as appreciative as an individual can be. He is always humble and avoids talking about his accomplishments.”
Martinez has signde a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field and cross country on an athletic scholarship at Oklahoma State University this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Martinez joins Gatorade New Mexico Boys Track & Field Athletes of the Year Eric Fenton (2010–11, Hope Christian School), Warrick Campbell (2009-10, Highland), and Curtis Beach (2008–09, 2007-08 & 2006-07, Albuquerque Academy) among the state’s list of former award winners.
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