Brenda Martinez

Brenda Martinez (born September 8, 1987) is an American track and field athlete, specializing in middle distance races. Born in Upland, California. She won a silver medal in the 800 meters at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, 2013.[1] She also represented the USA at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in the 1500 meters. On February 7, 2015 she set a world record in the Distance medley relay at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. In 2015, started Big Bear Track Club and recruited their first athlete Boris Berian. In 2016, Martinez qualified for the U.S. Olympic team competing in the 1500 meters after beating Amanda Eccleston by 0.03 seconds.

Brenda Martinez

Martinez at the 2016 Olympic Trials
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
World Championships
2013 Moscow800 m
World Relay Championships
2014 Nassau4×800 m relay
2014 Nassau4×1500 m relay

Martinez ran collegiately for University of California, Riverside, finishing second at the NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 1500 m.[2] She attended Rancho Cucamonga High School, graduating in 2005.[3] She is of Mexican American descent.[4]

Her training is meticulously planned by veteran coach Joe Vigil assisted by Brenda's husband and former Concordia University (California) runner Carlos Handler.

Giving back

Martinez had spoken regularly at high schools and running camps, so her coach Joe Vigil suggested she start her own running camp for young girls. Her first camp in 2013 consisted of five California middle school and high school girls. There is no official camp name but it can be referred to as the Big Bear Altitude Training Camp. 2017 marked the camp's fifth year.[5]

The application process consists of an open prompt essay and campers have to live in Southern California. “Picking a stack, that’s the hardest part,” Martinez said, referring to her application process. The campers are not necessarily their schools' fastest runners, but that's not the point. “I want to get them to believe they can do it even when times are getting tough,” she said. “They see me as an example. I share my story with them, and they share their stories with me. It’s the reason they’re at camp. Storytelling brings us together.”[6]

Over the course of about three full days, the campers, coached by Martinez and a few of her friends, get to know one another over home-cooked meals, seminars, and runs. The group runs twice a day, but the focus isn’t on intense workouts. Evening seminars, led by Martinez and her physical therapist, range from injury prevention to positive thinking.

Competition record
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing the  United States
2012 World Indoor Championships Istanbul, Turkey 6th (h) 1500 m 4:11.30
2013 World Championships Moscow, Russia 2nd 800 m 1:57.91
2015 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Boston, Massachusetts 1st DMR 10:42.57[a]
2016 World Indoor Championships Portland, Oregon 5th 1500 m 4:09.57
Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21st (sf) 1500 m 4:10.41
2017 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Boston, Massachusetts 1st DMR 10:40.31[a]
a World record

National championships
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2008 US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 10th 800m 2:05.10
2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 9th 800m 2:04.85
2012 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 2nd 1500 m 4:15.11
US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 12th 1500 m 4:10.73
US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 6th 800 m 2:01.67
2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 2nd 800 m 1:58.78
2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 5th 800 m 2:00.18
2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 2nd 800 m 1:59.71
2016 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Portland, Oregon 1st 1500 m 4:08.37
US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 7th 800 m 2:06.63
US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 3rd 1500 m 4:06.16
2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 3rd 800 m 1:58.46

References
  1. "IAAF: Brenda Martinez | Profile". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  2. http://www.legacy.usatf.org/Athlete-Bios/Brenda-Martinez.aspx
  3. "State Finals - 2005". www.prepcaltrack.com. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  4. "Inspiring Latina of the Week: Runner & Athlete Brenda Martinez". LATINA. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  5. "Brenda Martinez: "I Appreciate My Life More Because of Them"". Runner's World. 2017-03-22. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
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