ONU Women’s Cross Country

Thaliya Rosa Martinez demonstrated exceptional dedication and athleticism throughout her collegiate career, competing on the Olivet Nazarene University women’s cross country and track and field teams. As a newcomer to running, she faced challenges that required considerable effort to overcome, including redshirting her freshman year. Each year, her cross country team participated in a summer camp; however, prior to her junior year, she was unable to attend due to her commitment to army training.

After successfully completing her training and graduating from the advanced camp for the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Martinez focused on excelling in cross country meets. Her hard work paid off when she earned a position on the national team in 2022, which was based in Tallahassee, Florida.

Although she did not have the benefit of summer training, her rigorous army training equipped her with the skills necessary to compete effectively. In addition to her responsibilities on the women’s cross country team, she was an active member of the Army ROTC Ranger Challenge team. As part of this nine-member team, she contributed to their first-place victory, bringing home the trophy. Concurrently, she aimed to qualify for cross country nationals, successfully helping her Ranger Challenge team achieve another first-place finish.

Despite facing challenges with low iron levels, Martinez persevered and secured a spot on the national team in 2023, located in Seattle, Washington, as an alternate. During this period, she managed to participate in both the women’s cross country and track and field teams while also training for the Army sports team. Her ability to balance multiple athletic commitments exemplifies her unwavering pursuit of excellence and determination to succeed.