In the weeks after the state shut down spring sports in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jaquellus Martin continued to train and held out hope there would be a spring track and field season.
It didn’t happen. The entire season was canceled.
However, the extra work paid off for the Trigg County senior Friday as he became the first Wildcat athlete in 16 years to win an individual state title.
Martin used a strong angle in the curve and outkicked Mercer County’s Beau Brown and Paducah Tilghman’s Luke Birdsong to cross the tape in first place in 22.06 seconds. His time also established a school record, edging the old mark of 22.15 seconds set by Greg Bridges in 1988.
Martin joins Charles Alexander, Steve Neel, Al Baker, and Greg Bridges as Trigg athletes to win a state title in the 200 meters. However, Martin is the first Trigg athlete to win a state title in Class 2A.
Jeremy Jones won state titles in the high jump and long jump in 2005. The last runner to win a state title was Shalmon Radford in the 400-meter run in 1995. Trigg’s last state title came in 2008 from the 800-meter relay team.
Martin reached the podium twice during the day. He finished third in the 100-meter dash in 11.07 seconds. Only Al Baker has run a faster 100 meters at state in school history.
Martin almost reached the podium for the third time but the 1600-meter relay team he ran the first leg on finished in 10th place, less than a second out of eighth place and a medal.
