Tony Martin, Michigan State LJ Record Holder, Dies At 19


Tony Martin, a Michigan state long jump record holder who competed in his first collegiate season indoors for Michigan State University in 2020 and was a graduate of Saginaw (MI) High School, died early Sunday at the age of 19, it was reported by Flint's ABC 12 affiliate.

Martin was the victim of a shooting at a gas station in his hometown of Saginaw, Michigan.

Martin's young track and field career was just beginning to blossom after a record breaking senior season for Saginaw High School in 2019, where he won his first Michigan State LP-2 state championship and secured a wind-legal and remarkable long jump best of 26 feet, 6 inches in April of last year.

While that mark was not ratified -- as it was accomplished in a dual-meet -- it would have tied for the seventh-best jump of all-time. 

Martin's long jump ended the 2019 season as a US No. 1 mark, though it was also part of a successful campaign that also saw him run 100m and 200m bests of 10.87 and 21.96 seconds, respectively. 

In his first season for Michigan state this indoor season he secured a 60m best of 6.92 seconds and 21.92 in the 200m. He long jumped a mark of 6.66m (21-10.25). 

Those who knew Martin have begun to pay their respects.