By STEFAN BONDY

Herald Assistant Sports Editor

Joe Martinek has the speed.

He has the hops.

The arm.

The agility.

The natural ability of a superstar.

But for all his physical attributes, Martinek's extraordinary athletic success is more about mentality.

The Hopatcong junior, who may one day be regarded as the greatest athlete in Sussex County Interscholastic League history, said he is in a constant battle against himself and his opponent.

A drive for one-upmanship: Whatever you or I can do, I can do better the next time.

"The higher level that I get, my goal is to get to a level 10 times better," he said.

That frame of mind is clear during track meets, where Martinek is the picture of focus. While other competitors are chatting between attempts, Martinek is by himself, isolated in a far area of the field.

He is concentrating, he said, on technique.

On any possible way to produce a better throw or jump.

"I don't know if I have ever coached a kid that is so consumed in his athletics," Hopatcong track coach Mike Juskus said. "He will not rest on anything he has achieved."

The focus has reaped its benefits.

When Martinek graduates, he will be decorated with some of the most prestigious honors in the state.

In football, he is already the SCIL's all-time leading rusher and led Hopatcong to a state title last fall. He is on target to eclipse the state rushing mark next season.

In track, he placed in three events at last year's Meet of Champions — second in high jump, third in javelin and seventh in the triple jump.

No other SCIL athlete, male or female, placed more than once last season, and that was just five other kids.

He also won three county titles, three sectional championships and placed in the top-4 in four events at the Group 2 meet.

The scariest part: He's only 16.

Juskus recognizes the rarity, and certainly has the credentials to judge talent. He has coached at Hopatcong for nearly a quarter of a century, won a NCAA Division I title in the javelin for Glassboro State College and qualified for the 1984 Olympics.

But he has never seen the likes of Martinek, a kid with the drive to match his considerable talent.

"You couldn't get anything better," Juskus said. "He's a once in a lifetime kind of talent.

"I've had a lot of great kids, but he's No. 1. Who can I put ahead of him? If you look at the Sussex County Interscholastic League, who can you put ahead of him?"

Juskus is grooming Martinek into a decathlete with aspirations of an NCAA title. It's a realistic goal even now, with Martinek still a year from graduation.

His marks in the javelin and high jump are both higher than last year's NCAA champion, Trey Hardee of the University of Texas.

Martinek's top long jump is only about one inch off.

Juskus said he will debut Martinek in the hurdles this season, but still needs to get him acclimated to the pole vault.

"I anticipate him being a D-I decathlete in any school he chooses," Juskus said.

Athletics aren't his only point of prominence. Martinek also has a 3.2 GPA and a likable personality.

For somebody so accomplished and so above his competition, he is amazingly gracious.

Every victory is because of his teammates.

Every touchdown is a result of blocking.

Every javelin throw is a tribute to his coach.

He doesn't even take credit for his athletic focus, which he said was a part of a strong upbringing.

"My family taught me what's right, and what I need to do," he said. "My dad was a tough on me at times about what I have to do, but it was good because he got in my head.

"It is just the way I was raised."

Martinek's father, Joe Sr., doesn't buy it.

He witnessed his son's intensity long ago in the Pee-Wee leagues, like a boy born with athletic ambition.

"I don't think I can take much of the credit for that. But it doesn't surprise me that is what he said because he doesn't take credit for anything," Joe Sr. said. "He has always been that way.

"When he was young, he just always wanted to be the best. You could just tell. The focus is just incredible."

It would seem there is nothing out of Martinek's reach.

Three thousand yards rushing next year?

Another state title?

Three MOC championships?

An NCAA champion?

It might all seem too grandiose. But for Martinek, anything is possible.