JTV Sports

MARION, IN – Spring Arbor University's Nathan Martin continues to amaze.  Martin now owns the fastest time ever in a collegiate marathon at 2:18.70, breaking Jim Cairns' (Puget Sound, WA) 1985 record of 2:21.08.22.  What is even more amazing is that it was Martin's first ever marathon. Official times won't be posted until later this afternoon, but it is certain that Martin's time sets the new College Standard by almost two minutes. So many amazing things can be said about this race, including Martin's lead at the very first aid station that was four miles into the race.  Martin was already all by himself by over a minute, which was unheard of.  Running a clockwork steady pace of about 5:18 per mile, he left everyone behind and ran the entire race out of eye sight by the rest of the field. By winning the 10,000 meter run on Thursday, Martin is just the second person in history to win both the 10,000, and the Marathon in the same year.  In 2003, John Ngure from Huntington University (IN) won both as well. The time that Martin posted is now the 15th  fastest time in the United States this year and is just…

- Senior Division: Mark Mann - 71 Greg Bailey - 77 Nathan Lazebnik - 77 Steve Jackson - 78 Andy Bostik - 80 Chris Strong - 80 Bill Tuttle - 80 Bob Rainey - 81 Roger Wilkes - 81 John Drlicka - 82 Dave Mayotte - 82 Jim Nelson - 82 - Open Division: Andrew Tindall - 73 Andy Denig - 74 Greg Zeller - 75 Dan Bellus - 77 Chris Pond - 78 Jason Klinger - 79 Andrew Lang - 79 Kevin Rhodes - 79 Justin Welton - 79 Mike Boldt - 80 Todd Marston - 80

Senior point guard Matt Van Pelt has signed a one year contract to play professionally for the Darwin Uni Rebels located in Darwin, Australia. Van Pelt will depart on June 5th and tentatively plans to return to the states on December 16. Matt is one of only two American players on the roster joining a 6'9 forward from Seattle, Washington. Darwin is the capital city of the northern territory in Australia and sits right on the ocean. Temperatures range from the low 70's to the high 90's all year long. Matt started in 126 games throughout his collegiate career and led Spring Arbor to 84 victories. He was twice named to the Crossroads League All-Defensive Team. In March the National Christian College Athletics Association recognized Matt as the Pete Maravich Award Recipient. This is the highest individual honor within the NCCAA. The award which originated in 1990 was named after Pete Maravich, the legendary LSU and NBA basketball Hall-of-Famer. Van Pelt is the 24th recipient and the first in Spring Arbor history. Matt will graduate this spring with a degree in English and Communications. "I'm really happy Matt has the opportunity to continue to play the game he is so…

Melissa Walton, a senior associate athletic director for Albion College, has taken on a new challenge during this spring semester – coaching the Special Olympics Area 19 volleyball team from Jackson County as it prepares for the state games at the end of the month. Walton has been trying to have a volleyball team represent the area in the Special Olympics, but didn’t have enough players until this year. “My aunt worked for the national [Special Olympics] office in Washington D.C., so I have been working for Special Olympics since I was 5,” says Walton, “but this is my first time working in this area.”  Walton ran the power lifting event for the Special Olympics when she was working at Central Michigan University. Each Monday night, the eight members of the team are brought to Kresge Gymnasium for a two-hour practice, which normally starts with running laps, and then transitions to brief passing drills with partners, and eventually leads into a scrimmage.

Speedway officials will open the Turn One grandstands from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 14 and May 15 to watch testing. So far, Kurt Busch and Trevor Bayne are the only drivers schedule to test those days. Fans are asked to park in Lot 10 off US 12 and enter the grandstands through Gate 17, just behind the water tower. The restroom facilities will be open. Fans are also allowed to bring in coolers that meet the MIS grandstand gate policies for any race weekend