UC Riverside's two-time All-American Brenda Martinez bounced back from a fifth place finish in the 1500m Friday to take second Sunday in the 800m in Wattenscheid, Germany. Much like Friday's race, Sunday's was marred by contact between some of the runners. This time, Martinez was involved, however, as her heels were clipped late in the race. The Rancho Cucamonga managed to maintain her balance, and finished with a time of 2:01.95 just behind Lenka Masna's (CZE) 2:01.81.
On Friday, with approximately 400m left in her 1500m race in Leverkusen, Germany Martinez was running with the lead pack, but a collision between two runners just in front of her forced her to come to a complete stop and shift over two lanes before employing her patented end-of-race kick to try and catch up to the leaders. Martinez made up most of the distance, but ran out of track finishing in fifth place, less than two seconds off the pace. Her time of 4:11.36 was still the second fastest time of her career.
On July 26, the rising senior used another late kick to win the 800m in Brasschaat, Belgium in 2:00.86 which betters the UCR record she set less than two weeks ago by .17 seconds (
watch the race). It is the sixth fastest time by an American so far this year in the 800m.
It was just five days prior that Martinez broke the school record in the 1500m winning her race in Ghent, Belgium (
watch the race) by running a 4:09.52 - four seconds faster than her previous best (
watch Martinez's interview after the race). Her time was the 10th fastest time run by an American this year in the 1500m.
Two weeks ago, she ran what was then a UCR record 2:01.03 winning the the 800m in Liege, Belgium (
watch the race). In doing so she bested Geena Gall (the 2008 and 2009 NCAA 800m Champion) and Alysia Johnson (the 2007 NCAA 800m Champion) (
watch Martinez's interview after the race).
Martinez is competing in six events over four weeks in Europe. Four of the meets are in Belgium and two are in Germany. The Rancho Cucamonga junior will run the 800m, 1500m and mile at various times during her tour.
Brenda Martinez's European Schedule
| Date |
Location |
Distance |
| July 15 |
Liege, Belgium |
800m |
| July 21 |
Ghent, Belgium |
1500m |
| July 26 |
Brasschaat, Belgium |
800m |
| July 31 |
Leverkusen, Germany |
1500m |
| August 2 |
Wattenscheid, Germany |
800m |
| August 8 |
Ninove, Belgium |
800m |