Victoria Martinez
THIS YEAR: With the graduation of 3 seniors from last year's national championship team, junior Victoria Martinez is the likely candidate to step forward and fill some of the gap ... Is coming off a summer of intense training and is at full strength for the first time in 2 years ... Could emerge as the Cougars' No. 2 runner and press for conference and national honors.
2008 (sophomore): Ran in 4 of the Cougars' 6 scheduled meets, missing the trips to the Aquinas Invitational in Michigan and the NAIA Championship Meet in Wisconsin ... Was not a full strength for much of the season ... Posted a season-best of 19:37 to finish 38th at the GSAC championships.
2007 (freshman): Appeared in the Cougars' first 2 meets before a leg injury ended her campaign ... Opened the year with a 19:58 at the Cal State Fullerton meet followed by a 19:47 at the Midwest Collegiate.
TRACK & FIELD: Has qualified for the NAIA indoor and outdoor championship meet in each of her 2 seasons on Azusa Pacific's nationally-recognized track & field program ... Has earned a pair of All-America honors by running the legs of the Cougars' distance medley relay (2008 indoor) and 4x800-meter relay (2009 indoor) that both finished third ... Individually, qualified for the NAIA outdoor 1500 both seasons and advanced to the finals as a freshman ... while running the opening leg on the Cougar 4x800-meter relay that finished eighth ... Earned All-GSAC in the 1500 as a freshman, finishing ... Was fourth in the GSAC 1500 ... Has run legs on the 2008 and 2009 GSAC champion 4x800-meter relay ... Owns career bests of 2:17.23 (800) and 4:38.89 (1500).
HIGH SCHOOL: Was a 2-sport standout at Granite Hills High in Apple Valley, Calif. ... Was a 3-time All-Desert Sky League honoree in track & field and a 2-time All-CIF pick in soccer ... As a freshman, finished fourth in the CIF cross country finals and was eighth as a junior ... In track, was league champion in the 1600 and 3200 as a freshman ... In soccer, led Granite Hills to the CIF Division V championship as a junior ... Recorded bests of 5:07.67 (1600) ... Also ran an 18:49 in a cross country meet at Mt. SAC ... Missed all of her senior season with torn knee ligaments.
PERSONAL: Born Aug. 28, 1989, in Victorville, Calif. ... Parents are James (distributionist) and Tracey (public information officer) Martinez ... Has a younger sister (Meghan) ... Majoring in physical therapy.
