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John Martinez, a recent graduate of New York's North Rockland
High School, won the junior steeplechase in 9:06.60.
Q:
How did the race go?
John Martinez:
I wanted to go sub-9:05, so I didn't get the goal. But I'm still
going and representing the USA [at the Junior Pan Am Games at the
end of July]. That was the main goal. The race went well. It went
out hard, which is what I wanted; I didn't want it to be a sit-and-kick
like all those other races that were happening. Shane Young took
the lead, and I sat behind him for a bit. We were going pretty fast,
so I didn't want to take the lead and have them pacing off me. With
a mile to go, I pretty much went, and didn't look back. I made my
one move, just put it there and started pushing as hard as I could.
Q:
Kevin McDermott seemed pretty determined to make sure it went out
fast.
JM:
Yeah. He always pushed the pace. He's a tough competitor. He's in
my state, so we raced at the state championships, and again at nationals.
He beat me at states, he outkicked me, actually, so that's one thing
I was afraid of happening today. I didn't want to lead and have
people draft off me, then take it. He always takes the race out
hard, but I beat him last week in North Carolina. Again, he took
the race out last week.
Q:
You took the lead with about four laps to go?
JM:
I made my move then, attacking the barrier right after the finish
line. I had my coach and my next year's coach lined up on the outside,
so they were yelling out splits. They told me I was right around
9:00 pace, which was what I really wanted to do. They had me pushing
over there. I had some friends over here, and my family was over
on the backstretch. I felt really good. I just wanted to keep going
and push the pace as hard as I could. I wanted to push myself to
a real fast time.
Q:
Where are you headed for college next year?
JM:
North Carolina State.
Q:
There's a couple of steeplechasers there.
JM:
Yes, Andy Smith just ran in the open race. I didn't get to see it,
because I was at the hotel, trying to stay out of the sun.
(Interview
conducted June 25, 2005)
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John
Martinez.
(Photo by Alison Wade/New York Road Runners)
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