Takes gold at prestigious meet in California
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Joe Martinek wasn't very happy when he left the NJSIAA Meet of Champions last Wednesday. No matter that the Hopatcong senior had picked up a silver medal in the javelin and a bronze in high jump. Martinek's leg was bleeding after getting spiked, and he hadn't thrown 200 feet in the javelin. It certainly wasn't how Martinek pictured the end of his high school track and field career. Good thing he had one more meet remaining, the Golden West Invitational in Folsom, Calif. Martinek walked away proudly, throwing 201-6 to bring home a gold medal. "I can finish my high school career happy," he said by phone from the meet. "All my throws were consistent. I actually had some form on my throws. I wasn't just going and throwing."
Martinek once again followed in the footsteps of Hopatcong alumnus Bobby Smith, who also won the Golden West javelin. Smith threw 219-6 in 2001. West Morris senior Nick Alexander threw 57-3/4 to place ninth in the shot put. He also finished 16th in the discus (123-2). The No. 1 seed in the javelin, Martinek gave up a chance to play in the New York-New Jersey All-Star Classic in order to participate in Golden West. He was over 190 feet on every throw, winning the battle against the pressure that returned when he realized he was the top-ranked entrant. "This was a once in a lifetime shot," Colts coach Mike Juskus said. "I think it was a good tradeoff. ... He's back in the telephone booth. He comes out a football player now." Martinek wore his green-and-white Hopatcong jersey "for the last time" during competition on Sunday, but switched to a Rutgers T-shirt to accept his award. He starts college in two weeks, taking a summer course and beginning to practice with the football team. "Mentally, I'm always in football mode," said Martinek, who set the New Jersey record with 7,589 career yards. "The way it ended, it makes it a lot easier. I can end happy. ... I have to try to get people believing (in the Scarlet Knights) on the west coast. The east coast believes now, so I have to see what we can do out here."