RIVERDALE, NY — Darion Lopez and Martina Martinez have more in common than being veteran sprinters for the Manhattan University Track & Field program. Both broke school records this year, ensuring their Jasper legacies would not be forgotten anytime soon.
Neither Lopez nor Martinez went on a limb this year, declaring they would break school records. However, from the beginning of the year, a different mentality within the program struck a chord. For the top performers, this meant a certain level of buy-in to become the best version of themselves.
"This year was harder than last year," Martinez said. "We had a lot of chats (with coaches). We had to lock in and take care of ourselves."
Martinez made her last act in a Jasper uniform her best one. She toppled the 400m field at the MAAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 11 to win the gold medal with a school record-breaking time of 1:00.93. Martinez's fast trek surpassed former record holder Lisa Edwards, who ran a 1:01.25 back in 2000.
"I just wanted to go for it," Martinez said about setting the new school record. "It was something I wanted to do, being a senior."
It also felt like redemption for Martinez after last year's fifth-place showing at the MAAC Outdoor Championships. Martinez admits that last year, she took the field of competitors for granted, dropping to fifth after winning her preliminary heat. Martinez was adamant about leaving it all out on the track this year.
"Last year I didn't do what I was supposed to do," Martinez said. "I worked so hard and felt stronger this year."
Meanwhile, Lopez's journey to school-record holder happened fast — literally and figuratively. Running a 6.84, he set the school record in the 60m event at the Giegengack Invitational in New Haven, Connecticut, on February 15.
"I'd been racing in the 60s up to that point, and I was never really that close," Lopez said. "But that's how it goes. It's such a short race… You either do it or you don't."
Lopez even recalled the similar experience that previous record-holder Kaya Simpson went through back in 2023. Like Simpson, who ran a 6.85, Lopez didn't think he could do until it simply happened.
"The timing was so slow that day," Lopez said, having had to patiently await the results. "Then, Coach Ena just looked at me and said, 'you did it' and then we all got really excited."
Lopez also came just .01 away from the school record in the 100m, posting his best time of 10.45 in the 100m Finals at the MAAC Outdoor Championships this year. It was nothing to be ashamed of for Lopez, who had battled injuries all season and was thankful for the chance to compete.
"I was a little disappointed but at the end of the day I couldn't really be upset," Lopez said. "I did the best that I could."
With his collegiate career officially done, Lopez will continue to compete for the Philippines National Team and train under Coach Ena Leufroy-Sylvain's guidance. Additionally, he still has one year left with his vascular sonography program in Pennsylvania.
"I want to be able to work and have my running career on the side," said Lopez. "I'm still trying to figure out where I'm gonna fit everything in."
Meanwhile, this past weekend, Martinez graduated with a degree in Digital Arts Media with her family traveling from Spain to be in attendance. The Barcelona native is grateful for her time at Manhattan after transferring from Lindenwood University two years ago.
"Being in New York was a whole different experience," Martinez said.
"I had a lot of advantages at Manhattan. They provided me with everything I needed to be happy."
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