The Goucher track and field team started its outdoor season a few weeks before spring break, after a relatively successful indoor season through the winter. But Mark Martin ‘26 didn’t enter the picture immediately. The Gophers hosted a track meet the second weekend of spring break, and Martin stopped by the long and triple jump runways. He had jumped in high school, but had never considered competing on the next level as a serious option. The spring break meet opened possibilities for him.
After some discussions with the jumps coach, Javin Dodd, and the head coach Erick Camodeca, Martin earned himself a spot on the team in a trial period. After a few rough practices (Martin admitted he hadn’t run in over a year) he was approved by the coaches to compete in the meet at Mid-Atlantic JUCO Invitational on April 15. Despite getting a much later start than the rest of his team, he quickly found his stride, both on the track and with his teammates.
On April 29, in only his third ever collegiate meet, Martin finished first in both the triple and long jump. His triple jump mark of 13.44 meters set a new program record, and put Martin into the No. 3 ranked spot in the Landmark Conference.
The track team has spent this weekend competing in the Landmark Conference Championships. For many, having this meet as their fourth in their career would be stressful, even more so if they’re coming off a record-setting previous week.
But Martin isn’t worried. When I reached out to him for photos for this edition, he laughed. “I only have goofy pictures. Is that fine?” I laughed too, and told him it’s his article and reputation. If he’s alright with that, it’s fine with me. He laughed again, before forwarding me the picture above.
And as for conferences? “I’m just getting started,” he said with casual confidence. “Much more to come.”
For updated results on the Landmark Conference Championships, visit athletics.goucher.edu.
