With a little over a lap to go, it was down to Luis Martinez and Utah's Connor Mantz. Photo by Alan Versaw.
There really wasn't much that Luis Martinez had left to prove as a New Mexico high school athlete. Martinez had won the state cross country title and finished third at Nike Cross Nationals. He had dominated the 1600 and 3200 at the state track meet three weeks ago. At that point, he could have hung up the spikes, and he would have been regarded on a very short list as among the best New Mexico has ever produced.
But, there was one more race to run. One more time as a high schooler. One more time in his home state. One more time on the familiar UNM track.
For six laps, there was nothing extraordinary about the race. 3200s can be that way. Dajour Braxton of Nevada set the early pace. Connor Mantz of Utah rode close behind Braxton, itching to take over the lead but biding his time just the same. It can be foolish to go to the front too soon in a 3200 meter battle of the wills.
As soon as Mantz did go to the lead, however, on lap six, he had a shadow. That shadow wore the familiar yellow singlet of team New Mexico. It was not the familiar electric blue Martinez had worn during the NMAA season, but there was nobody in the stadium clueless about who occupied the singlet.
And, though Connor Mantz may be Utah's best sophomore ever, he was no match for Martinez's speed, will, and experience. Midway through lap seven, Martinez took over and didn't even bother to look over his shoulder the last 600 meters. Apparently, there was no question in Martinez's mind what the final outcome would be.
Martinez simply turned up the speed over the last 600 meters. Mantz gave credible chase, but there was no reining in of Martinez.
For one last time, Martinez defeated all comers on his home turf. The time of 9:28.96 was not sensational, but it did not need to be. After a wilting day under the New Mexico sun and wind, none of the competitors came to the line completely fresh. Martinez simply did what needed to be done. It may be a while before New Mexico sees another like him.
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