Ari Martinez

Photo by: Justin Pacheco

Photo by: Trevor Cokley

Photo by: Andrés Leighton, NCAA Photos

Class:
Senior
Events:
High Jump
Hometown:
Albuquerque, N.M.
Height:
6-1
High School:
St. Pius X
Squadron:
13 Bulldawgs

JUNIOR YEAR | 2020-21: Recorded the fifth-best high jump clearance in Air Force Outdoor history (career-best 5’7¾”) to finish third at the Drake Relays…scored for the Falcons in that event at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships (5’7”, seventh)…registered a season-best indoor clearance of 5’8” to finish second at the Air Force Collegiate Open…added runner-up finishes at the Air Force Holiday Open (5’7”) and Wyoming Power Meet (5’6”)…claimed nine top-five finishes on the year, including six in the top three…earned the team’s Field Athlete of the Week award three times.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2019-20: Received the team’s Gail Conway Outstanding Performance Award for posting the fourth-best indoor high jump clearance in Academy history (5’8½”)...used that career-best clearance to place fifth in the Elite section of the Red Raider Invitational...named the Mountain West Field Athlete of the Week following that meet...first debuted on the program’s all-time standings with a winning 5’7¼” clearance (sixth all-time) at the Potts Invitational...also finished first at the Air Force Team Challenge (5’7”)...scored for the Falcons at the MW Indoor Championships (5’7¾”, sixth).

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2018-19: Competed in the high jump during 15 meets (six indoor, nine outdoor)...recorded a career-best clearance of 5’6” to finish second at the Jack Christiansen Invitational during the outdoor season...won the Doug Max Invitational with a height of 5’5¼”...cleared 5’5¾” to finish third out of 27 jumpers at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate...also finished within the top three at the Air Force Twilight Open (second, 5’5¼”) and Jerry Quiller Classic (third, 5’3”)...recorded an indoor-best height of 5’5¾” at the Texas Tech Shootout...matched that clearance to score for the Falcons at the Mountain West Indoor Championships (eighth).

HIGH SCHOOL: Saint Pius X High School...four-time New Mexico state champion in the high jump...three-time Metro champion...three-time Sepulveda meet champion...tied Sepulveda meet record...also played basketball and volleyball...member of the volleyball team that won the state championship in 2017...earned academic all-state honors in basketball as a senior...member of the National Honor Society...named school’s Academic Athlete of the Year as a senior.

PERSONAL: Full name is Arianna Renee Martinez...goes by Ari...daughter of Raphael and Jennifer Martinez...has two younger brothers...majoring in English...grandfather served in the Air Force...has one aunt and two uncles that played collegiate athletics (Ronica Martinez played basketball at New Mexico, Jason Bengert was a pitcher on the baseball teams at New Mexico and Arizona State, Ryan Bengert was a pitcher on the baseball team at Cameron)...member of Cadet Squadron 13.