The CIF State Track and Field Championships usually marks the
culmination of the spring season. But five months worth of track
action at the prep level wasn’t enough for Frankie Martinez.
HOLLISTER
The CIF State Track and Field Championships usually marks the culmination of the spring season. But five months worth of track action at the prep level wasn’t enough for Frankie Martinez.
The discus thrower, who graduated from San Benito High School the same day as the state meet, was in action last Saturday at the Golden West Invitational in Folsom, where he recorded a 143-02 to finish 10th overall.
Martinez missed the top-nine cut, however, by less than five feet.
Zachary Stetler of Elko High had the top throw when he posted a 186-10.
“I’m a little disappointed because I was expecting a great throw,” Martinez said. “I was expecting to get a personal-best mark.”
Only allotted five warm-up throws, though, as opposed to an average of 10 throws at other meets, Martinez felt he could have performed better given more time.
Perhaps as no surprise, his 143-02 was recorded on his third and final throw of the round.
“I like to get a lot of warm-up throws, to get the muscles going,” Martinez said. “It was an alright throw, but it could have been slightly better.”
Martinez recorded a 126-01 at the state meet, a 149-04 at the Central Coast Section Championships, a 151-01 at the CCS Preliminaries, and a 144-05 in the Tri-County Athletic League Championships — the latter throw giving him first place in the league.
His best throw of the year was a 152-01 at the Mount Pleasant Relays, which was the fifth best throw recorded in the CCS last season.
With every intention of competing at Hartnell next season, though, Martinez is looking to build upon a senior campaign that saw him advance to the all-exclusive state meet for the first time in his career.
“Right now,” he said, “I’m just trying to continue.”
