HASTINGS ATHLETIC CLUB
Back to Home Page
HASTINGS ATHLETIC CLUB |
||
Back to Home Page |
||
|
|
|
Wayne Martin
The
ever popular Wayne Martin, was voted by the club members to be their choice
as athlete of the year for 2001. This accolade is whole-heartedly deserved for
someone who has given his all for the club this year. In the first men's match
of the year he went with the B team and covered 14 events and this was out of
a total of only 19 events in the match. Later in the summer he was competing
in the vets championship in the week-end, and in the middle got a taxi 25 miles
to turn out again for the B team, at Watford. Wayne has now been with the club
for a number of years, having been introduced to the sport and the club by brother
Dale, in 1991. Just to keep it in the family the following year Wayne introduced
his daughter, Naomi to the club. Wayne joined to have a go at throwing, but
it was soon clear that this would be not enough, as Wayne is one of those who
is a lot happier to compete than to watch, and over the years, he has been one
of the biggest points gatherers for the mens' teams as well as, more recently,
the men's vets team. This has been highlighted over the years, as he has competed
in every track and field event for the club, including the steeplechase and
5,000m (during a cigarette break) for the men's and latterly for the vets team.
Wayne has not just spent his time training and competing as in the mid 1990's
Wayne found time to manage the young athletes team, at one of the times when
there were no the numbers of athletes available as there seem to be nowadays.
During this year he went to all of their matches, competed for the mens team
in all of their matches and went to support his daughter and the ladies team
at all of their matches! He has also been helping out managing the men's teams
on the day when the team managers were not available. Amongst Wayne's performances
for 2001 there were a bronze medal from the British Indoor pentathlon champs;
and a fine 16th place in the European version of the same event. That day when
he competed for the B team in Watford, also brought a gold medal in the vets
PV champs. 2002 sees a slimmer Wayne and he has already taken part in the indoor
pentathlon in Glasgow, where he set several personal bests in finishing inside
the top ten. Good luck for the rest of 2002, Wayne, and many thanks from the
club for all the hard work you have done in the past.