Grants distance runner delivers, sets new 800 state record

By Quentin Jodie | May 22, 2025 | Track & Field |

ALBUQUERQUE

The 2024 track season remains a blur for Grants distance runner Laila Martinez.

After capturing three state medals her freshman season, which included gold in the 800-meter race, Martinez did not make state last year as a sophomore.

“I had a bad track season, and I took that really hard,” Martinez said.

Her reversal of fortunes continued into last fall’s cross-country season. Nonetheless, Martinez used all that heartache to train even harder during the winter months to prepare for this year’s track season. The extra hard work during the offseason helped Martinez etch her name in the state record books as she reset the Class 4A 800-meter record on Saturday afternoon with a winning time of 2:13.65. The previous record holder was Academy’s Grace Alley, who ran a 2:15.76 in 2019.

“This is a great feeling,” the Laguna and Acoma Pueblo runner said. “I feel like it’s a good representation on what Native athletes can do, especially when you put your mind to it. With that, you can accomplish anything.”

In Saturday’s final, Academy had two runners trail Martinez with junior Addison Julian taking second at 2:14.14 while Anna Hastings took third at 2:18.29 with the former also beating the state record.

“I’m very grateful that they were there to really help me get to where I needed to be,” Martinez said of the Academy runners. “They got out very fast and I was happy with the pace of the race.”

And while she held off Julian at the finish line, the Grants junior does not remember the scintillating finish.

“I just pushed it, and everything just went black, but I was very happy to get the win,” she said. ““Honestly, this is big because you don’t really see us Natives on top of the podium as much, especially at the 4A and 5A divisions.”

In the 1600, Martinez placed second behind Hastings as the Academy runner clocked in at 5:00.60 while Martinez finished 5:06.55.

She also placed fourth in the 3200 on Friday afternoon, running with a time of 11:46.67, which was 14 seconds slower in her seed time.

“It wasn’t my best race,” Martinez said of her 3200 race. “I mean, it was a great day, but it was kind of hot. I’m really happy to just make the podium after last year.”

And while most of her peers received some sort of professional guidance, Martinez credits her dad, Wendell, for training her.

“This means a lot to us both, especially my dad,” she said of her 800 finish. “I’m very thankful that he helped me get here, to help me pursue my dreams because I deserved to be here. I deserve to have that same chance and I think that is what really pushed me to the line.”