Gary Martin has been named the boys' Gatorade Pennsylvania "Player of the Year" for the 2021 track and field season, capping off what has been a banner season for the Archbishop Wood distance runner.
Martin had a record-setting junior season on the track. He ran times of 4:02.15 for 1600m and 4:03.53 for the full mile to break long-standing all-time Pennsylvania state records at the John Hay PA Distance Festival in June. He also ran the PA No. 3 all-time outdoor 3200m at the Henderson Invitational, clocking a time of 8:49.96.
At the PIAA State Championships in May, Martin put on a show, claiming wins in both the AAA 3200m and 1600m. He broke the PIAA meet record in the 3200 with a time of 8:54.87. After running those two events, he returned to place fifth in the 800 meters. Martin closed out his outdoor track season with a third place finish in the mile at the Brooks PR Invitational in a time of 4:04.93.
Martin is just a junior, so he has another full season of high school running to continue to rewrite the record books in Pennsylvania. Check out an interview with Martin after his record 1600m/mile run from June below.
