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One year ago, the idea that Cydni Martin would be lacing up her spikes for the NCAA Track and Field West regional in Fayetteville was far-fetched.
She had just spent her senior year at DeSoto High (in the Dallas area) working her way back from a broken pelvis that cost her her junior year, struggling to get back to the form that she showed as a promising sophomore.
More: UTEP leans on freshmen, including Franklin alum, at final home meet
Martin wasn't a big prospect at that point, but UTEP had a new coaching staff looking to fill a first recruiting class, and sprint assistant Kimberly Francis did see that potential Martin flashed two years earlier.
If there is one thing Martin is good at, it's taking an opportunity and literally running with it. Given a chance to come to UTEP she sprinted for it, and that has taken her all the way to NCAA regionals. She'll run the 100 and 200 Thursday in what officially is the NCAA Outdoor Championships First Round.
"A year ago, I never thought I would be here," Martin said. "I was just now getting back from a year off from an injury that had me out my whole junior year, so I've never even imagined going to a D1 college. Being here my freshman year is really exciting.
"I got a phone call from Coach K (Francis), and since that first phone call with her, me and my mom, we were hooked. My mom said, 'We're going to UTEP.'"
The results have been electric. Recruited to El Paso more as a hurdler, which still may be where her future lies, Martin has made an immediate impact in the flat sprints. At the indoor Conference USA championships she was second in the 200, then she turned in qualifying times for outdoor regionals in the 100 (11.42 seconds) and 200 (23.41).
More: New-look UTEP track team uses Texas flavor to start strong at home
With that, she finally topped those times she was running three years ago as a high school sophomore.
"I'm not surprised by anything Cyndi does," first-year coach Francesca Green said. "From day one, when we started in the fall — and we're in week 35 of her training program — I've watched her every week work hard, not question, just get in and do the work. She always gives 110% when she does it.
"When you have an athlete willing to do that, the outcome of success is going to naturally come if you have any bit of talent. That young lady definitely has talent. She's put herself in the right positions all season long."
That's hasn't always been easy, but Martin has made it look that way. She's had to adjust to new coaching (her mother had been her coach since she started track at age 4), a new school and a new life in college.
"The hardest part is the mental battles you go through," she said. "I'm nine hours away from my family, this is my first time being on my own. I have to make sure I'm eating better, doing extra work, making sure I get my schoolwork and everything done, while still being an athlete."
Martin has seen how that's changed her.
"Growth," she said when asked to sum up her freshman year. "Growth in every aspect, growth as a student, growth as a person, attitude, work ethic, eating, tapping in with God. Learning myself.
"This whole year has just been growth and I'm glad that my coaches have been there to help me grow as a person and on the track."
She also has to navigate through Graves Disease, which especially causes her problems in cold weather.
"Every day, I have to take my pills," Martin said. "My trainer always notices if I don't take them. Sometimes when we have cold weather it's harder for me to breathe. I didn't run my best in New Mexico when it was really cold, I didn't run my best that Texas relays in the 200 when it was really cold.
"I just have to keep my body warm and really keep my, my thyroid warm as well, so I can breathe."
She'll face more long odds this weekend in Fayetteville, where she comes in ranked 51st in the 100 and 71st in the 200, and only 12 advance to nationals in Eugene, Oregon starting June 10.
So far, Martin, though, has defied all expectations.
"Our biggest goal is to progress to the next day (the second round is Saturday), get to that next round, and then once we get to that next round, the top 12 heads to Eugene," Green said. "That's the goal."
Martin has come so far in one year, now she'll try to take one more step.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP track star Cydni Martin overcomes obstacles, reaches NCAA regionals
Continue reading...
She had just spent her senior year at DeSoto High (in the Dallas area) working her way back from a broken pelvis that cost her her junior year, struggling to get back to the form that she showed as a promising sophomore.
More: UTEP leans on freshmen, including Franklin alum, at final home meet
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Cydni Martin: 'I never thought I'd be here'
Martin wasn't a big prospect at that point, but UTEP had a new coaching staff looking to fill a first recruiting class, and sprint assistant Kimberly Francis did see that potential Martin flashed two years earlier.
If there is one thing Martin is good at, it's taking an opportunity and literally running with it. Given a chance to come to UTEP she sprinted for it, and that has taken her all the way to NCAA regionals. She'll run the 100 and 200 Thursday in what officially is the NCAA Outdoor Championships First Round.
"A year ago, I never thought I would be here," Martin said. "I was just now getting back from a year off from an injury that had me out my whole junior year, so I've never even imagined going to a D1 college. Being here my freshman year is really exciting.
"I got a phone call from Coach K (Francis), and since that first phone call with her, me and my mom, we were hooked. My mom said, 'We're going to UTEP.'"
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Cydni Martin sprints to best times
The results have been electric. Recruited to El Paso more as a hurdler, which still may be where her future lies, Martin has made an immediate impact in the flat sprints. At the indoor Conference USA championships she was second in the 200, then she turned in qualifying times for outdoor regionals in the 100 (11.42 seconds) and 200 (23.41).
More: New-look UTEP track team uses Texas flavor to start strong at home
With that, she finally topped those times she was running three years ago as a high school sophomore.
"I'm not surprised by anything Cyndi does," first-year coach Francesca Green said. "From day one, when we started in the fall — and we're in week 35 of her training program — I've watched her every week work hard, not question, just get in and do the work. She always gives 110% when she does it.
"When you have an athlete willing to do that, the outcome of success is going to naturally come if you have any bit of talent. That young lady definitely has talent. She's put herself in the right positions all season long."
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Overcoming adversity
That's hasn't always been easy, but Martin has made it look that way. She's had to adjust to new coaching (her mother had been her coach since she started track at age 4), a new school and a new life in college.
"The hardest part is the mental battles you go through," she said. "I'm nine hours away from my family, this is my first time being on my own. I have to make sure I'm eating better, doing extra work, making sure I get my schoolwork and everything done, while still being an athlete."
Martin has seen how that's changed her.
"Growth," she said when asked to sum up her freshman year. "Growth in every aspect, growth as a student, growth as a person, attitude, work ethic, eating, tapping in with God. Learning myself.
"This whole year has just been growth and I'm glad that my coaches have been there to help me grow as a person and on the track."
She also has to navigate through Graves Disease, which especially causes her problems in cold weather.
"Every day, I have to take my pills," Martin said. "My trainer always notices if I don't take them. Sometimes when we have cold weather it's harder for me to breathe. I didn't run my best in New Mexico when it was really cold, I didn't run my best that Texas relays in the 200 when it was really cold.
"I just have to keep my body warm and really keep my, my thyroid warm as well, so I can breathe."
She'll face more long odds this weekend in Fayetteville, where she comes in ranked 51st in the 100 and 71st in the 200, and only 12 advance to nationals in Eugene, Oregon starting June 10.
So far, Martin, though, has defied all expectations.
"Our biggest goal is to progress to the next day (the second round is Saturday), get to that next round, and then once we get to that next round, the top 12 heads to Eugene," Green said. "That's the goal."
Martin has come so far in one year, now she'll try to take one more step.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP track star Cydni Martin overcomes obstacles, reaches NCAA regionals
Continue reading...
