Martino & Marenin recognized by USATF as 2019 Athletes of the Year

Last week USATF Colorado members Marianne Martino of Littleton and Roman Marenin of Highlands Ranch were recognized by USATF for their outstanding masters track & field performances in 2019.

Typically USATF recognizes its masters athlete of the year at ceremony during the following year’s outdoor masters championships but this year the ceremony was postponed due to the COVID pandemic and subsequently held virtually via Zoom last week.

Martino, 70, was named the 2019 USATF Masters Female Race Walker of the Year and also the Female 65-69 division Athlete of the Year.  In 2019 she was second in both the 5000m and 10,000m race walks at the World Masters Regional Championships in Toronto.  In the 5000m she stopped the clock at 31:54.05 and in the 10,000m she walked 1:06:21. At the world indoor championships in Poland she finished second in the 10 km race walk and third in the 3000m race walk. She also won two USATF national titles in 2019 - 3000m race walk indoors and 5000m race walk outdoors.
 

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IN THEIR WORDS - MARIANNE MARTINO

To receive both of these honors was a complete surprise and what a joy! The age division award is extra meaningful because there are many great and deserving athletes in all the disciplines of track and field, and to be chosen is truly an honor. Thank you, USATF!

2019 had its challenges, including an injury just before the 10 km road walk at Toronto NCCMA, but clearly it was all worth it!

My congratulations also to Roman for his achievement!

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Marenin, 37, was named the Male 35-39 division Athlete of the Year.  In 2019 he won the 400m at the World Masters Championships in Poland running 50.31. The time was the fastest indoor time in the world for the year in the M35-39 division.  He was also a member of the gold medal winning Team USA 4x200m relay and finished fifth in the 200m and seventh in the 60m hurdles. Outdoors he won the 400m, 400m hurdles and 110m hurdles at the World Masters Regional Championships in Toronto.  In the 400m he ran 49.57 to set a meet record.  In Toronto he also won the 400m hurdles (54.16) and 110m hurdles (15.19) and finished fifth in the 200m running 23.27.  He won two USATF national titles (110m hurdles outdoors and  400m indoors).
 

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IN THEIR WORDS - ROMAN MARENIN

Winning the USATF M35 Athlete of the Year was an absolute honor.  It was unexpected and amazing to be even considered for the award as there are so many great athletes in the age group. I was very fortunate with the year I had in 2019 especially after ending 2018 on an injury note.  Between winning in Poland in the 400 and then having my family with me in Toronto at the NCCWMA event, it was a really special year all around and I'm just so lucky with how it all turned out.  Being recognized by the USATF awards committee has been incredible and I hope that I can repay their faith in me with many more years of hard work and success.  

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The awards ceremony can be viewed below on YouTube.  To skip to Roman Marerin's presentation go to :55;  to skip to Marianne Martino's skip to 5:51 and 15:02.