For nearly 39 years, previous Eaton High School (EHS) pole vaulter Thompsons’ record jump of 14’5 remained at the top of the record board.
39 years later, junior Ryan Martinez flipped the script and shattered Thompsons’ previous record. The jump etched the Martinez name into the school pole vault record board, after Martinez launched himself 14 feet and nine inches into the air and over the crossbar. The feat also earned Martinez first place in the pole vaulting finals at the University Bulldog Invitational on Mar. 30, 2024.
It’s an expected record for the athlete after months of hard work, “It took the day after state to now of non-stop work; I skipped important things to make sure I was grinding,” said Martinez.
Comparable to the raw definition of an athlete, Martinez shares a similar mindset to most high-level athletes: accomplishing one goal and moving onto the next one, never stopping, in the pursuit of the dream; one’s success. EHS track coach Jaryn Guerra said, “Ryan was fully expecting to break that record this season, and we all knew it was only a matter of time.”
The journey began following Martinez’s 14th-placed finish at the 3A Track State Championships last year with an 11’ 3” jump. He had already begun setting goals to improve, and he had improved immensely since then, now capturing the pole vaulting record.
Martinez said, “I knew I was going to beat the record, and hopefully up next for me is the state title.” Martinez, with his blueprint of endless commitment and desire, is at the top of the list for athletes to watch when the 3A State Track and Field Championships arrive in May of this year.
Guerra said, “Ryan is committed to his craft and is willing to do what it takes to find success. He lives and breathes vaulting and he’s pumped to share that enthusiasm with everyone around him.” Martinez excels individually, but he is also an important asset to the track team. “He’s also a great teammate in terms of helping the younger or more inexperienced vaulters find their own success. Honestly, you’d be hard pressed to find a more enthusiastic teammate,” added Guerra.
Martinez now holds the record at 14’9”, but the record may not stand for much longer with the relentlessness of Martinez. He looks to continue to break school records and turn his hard work into success throughout the rest of the season.
The athlete breathes his sport, and breath by breath, he strives for success. Martinez is a perfect example of the struggle of sport and the result of the struggle. The monotonous work of failure and success that athletes fall in love with has finally turned into a record for Martinez, but for him self it most certainly won’t be the last time he etches his name onto the school record board.
