Luis Martinez Selected as Gatorade AOY

Before Luis Martinez was done at state, he had more than broken from the field, he had nearly broken the state meet record. Photo by Alan Versaw.

 

 

CHICAGO (January 17, 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 Cross Country Runner of the Year.  Martinez is the first
Gatorade New Mexico Boys Cross Country Runner 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 racecourse, distinguishes Martinez as New 
Mexico’s best high school boys cross country runner.  Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Cross 
Country Runner of the Year award to be announced in January, Martinez joins an elite alumni association of past 
state award-winners in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-00, 2000-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, 
Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Kevin Garnett (1992-93, Maudlin HS, 
S.C.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).
 
The 5-foot-10 senior raced to the Class 5A individual state championship this past season with a time of 15:41.4, leading 
the Storm to the state title as a team. The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, Martinez 
finished third at the Nike Cross Nationals Final in 17:17. He was also third at the NXN Southwest Regional 
championships and captured victories at the Lobo Invitational, the Rio Rancho Jamboree, the Albuquerque Academy 
Invitational, the Albuquerque Metro Championships and the Los Alamos Invitational.
 
Martinez has maintained a 4.07 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. 
 
“It was a truly magical season for Luis,” said Cleveland head coach Kenny Henry. “He’s a gifted runner, but he ended 
up showing more toughness, more dedication, more sacrifice and working harder than ever to ensure the season 
would be a success. He is truly a special kid.”
 
Martinez remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
 
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 Cross Country Runners of the Year Neil Longenbaugh (2010-11, 
Albuquerque Academy), Kyle Pittman (2009-10, Los Alamos), Bryce Palmer (2008-09, Eldorado), and Ben Johnson
(2007-08, Albuquerque Academy) as athletes who have won the cross country award since its inception in 2007.
 
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us 
on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of 
past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.