Blackman's Emilio Martin: 'I was looking forward to competing with myself'

Emilio Martin

Blackman High senior

Blackman's Emilio Martin is in an elite group of state track and field athletes.

Martin is one of just five athletes over the past 80 years who has won two state championships in the high jump in the state's highest classification (Science Hill's Bobby Ellis 1950-51) Doyle's Mark Branch 1970-71, Jefferson County's Tyler Stepp 2007-08, Southwind's Jacob Patton 2014-15).

Emilio Martin, a senior at Blackman High School, on the Blackman track on Friday, April 24, 2020, will not be participating in Spring Fling this Spring due to the TSSAA cancling the State Spring Championship this year due to the Coronavirus.

Nobody has won three state championships during that stretch. Martin (who won it as a freshman and also last season with a 6-foot-6 best jump) not only had a shot at doing that in 2020, but he would have been a favorite to do so.

That all ended when Tennessee schools, and spring sports, were shut down early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending his career short of a senior season.

Martin, who was also a football standout for the Blaze and will be attending the University of the Cumberlands to play both football and track and field, shared in his own words what impact losing his senior track and field season has had on him:

Blackman's Emilio Martin clears 6-foot-6 in the 2019 Large Division high jump event, winning his second state title.

I am Emilio Martin, (Region 3-6A) wide receiver of the year and two-time high jump state champion from Blackman High School.

I was coming into this season determined to get my hands on another state title, but then out of nowhere COVID-19 came and ended my season, as well as all spring sports athletes' season.

Emilio Martin, a senior at Blackman High School, shows off some of his medals that he has won during a few of the track meets during his high school career. Martin will not be participating in Spring Fling this Spring due to the TSSAA canceling the State Spring Championship this year due to the Coronavirus.

Spring sports being canceled affects more than just the players, though. This was the last year my family, friends, and anyone else would be able to watch me jump at the high school level, which (stinks), because as my last year jumping I wanted to put on a show.

This was also going to be the last year with this amazing team and I know we were going to create many great memories.

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I'm missing out on meeting new athletes from different states and being able to compete against hundreds of new people at out-of-state track meets. But one person I was really looking forward to competing against this year was myself.

I was eager to come in putting up better numbers than last year. I was eager to beat myself by a big margin this year.

Although I didn’t get a shot for my third state title I’m still very thankful to God and my coaches for the accolades I have thus far. But just because my season is over does not mean the grind to get better is, and to all athletes say a prayer, keep your chin up and continue to work.

I know its hard but don’t let times like these get you unfocused on your craft!