Martin Captures Second in NCAA Decathlon
Summer 2012 · Comment ·
One of the top all-around athletes in the nation is a UT Arlington Maverick.
Romain Martin finished second in the decathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June. It was the highest placement by a Maverick since McClinton Neal won the 1991 NCAA 400-meter hurdles crown.
Martin surged from eighth to second on the final day to finish with 7,956 points. The 6-foot-7 France native capped the competition with a personal-record 4:33.29 in the 1,500 meters.
“Romain competed under extreme pressure at the highest level,” track coach John Sauerhage said. “He didn’t get off to a great start on the first day, but he came back strong. It speaks to how talented and tough he is.”
Martin had top-10 showings in all five events on the second day, including a personal best in the javelin. His throw of 64.16 meters (210 feet, 6 inches) topped his previous best by more than a meter and was worth 801 points. It was the second-longest throw of the 20 competitors.
With his second-place finish, the junior business major earned first-team All-America honors. He is the only UT Arlington athlete to reach the NCAA Track and Field Championships in a multiple-event competition.
