Father Inspired X-Country Stand-Out

A running career was born at the Watertown bus stop.

At the age of twelve, sophomore track star Jenny Martin decided to run the 2.5-mile route home from the bus with her father. Little did she know that this was only the beginning.

It was no accident that Martin became addicted to the sport. Her father ran cross country and the half mile in high school, yet in college opted to spend more time with academics. Nevertheless, his passion for the sport remains to this day, as he has coached the Newton North High School track team for the past 25 years.

Martin took after her father. At the age of fourteen, Martin began to run on a competitive level. But running was not the only sport in her life. At Newton North High School, Martin was an all-around athlete. Her affinity towards sports was evident by her participation in soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball, and of course, track.

Eventually, the time came for Martin to commit herself to one sport. Although she enjoyed the other sports, especially soccer, running became the number-one priority.

"I'm pretty small," Martin said. "By the end of my soccer career it started becoming too dangerous to play. I wanted to stay in one piece."

Martin's high school cross country career was marked by steady improvement. By her senior year, she was ranked second in the U.S. by Track and Field magazine. With her dad as her coach, she continued to be passionate about the sport, and her excitement towards running never waned. And whenever she did well in a high school race, her father was always there.

"My father was a great motivator," Martin said. "But he never pushed me too hard."

The transition from high school to college track was not difficult. In high school, track was more of a personal sport, with less focus on team-bonding and cameraderie.

"The major difference between high school and college is that high school was more individual," Martin said. "In college, the team has a goal. The team is trying to make nationals--this gives us something to work towards together."

While so many athletes struggle with burnout, it is clear that Martin absolutely loves to run. And fortunately, the college track atmosphere attracts many people like her.

"Every single person on the team loves the sport," Martin said. "People aren't just doing it to put it on their resume. Everyone has a passion for running."

In her second year as a Crimson runner, Martin's talent is beginning to shine. The whole aura of running in college versus high school is different, but the change has been a positive one.

After spending the summer increasing her mileage and workout time, Martin is beginning to realize her potential.

"Now I'm in the best shape of my life," Martin said. "Each season I have improved. As long as I keep improving, that is the most important thing. I just want to do the best that I can."

With running taking up an enormous chunk of her time, Martin has worked hard to provide a balance between school and running.

"A lot of times you get out of classes and you're totally stressed out," Martin said. "Going down to the track and doing something that has nothing to do with books and professors makes you feel so much better about life. It allows me to remain sane."

Last year Martin finished 21st at the Heptagonal championships, and this year she hopes to do even better.

Martin, along with sophomore runner Karen Goetze, lead the Crimson cross country field.

"Jenny is a really good companion runner," Goetze said. "She and I push each other. One of us eventually dominates, yet the other is right behind."