1,500-meter USA indoor track title by Brenda Martinez made all the sweeter after career's rocky start

Brenda Martinez wins the 1,500 meters, her first national championship, at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday in Portland. (Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)

Martinez's win in 4:08.37 was a breakthrough moment, a victory that validated her sacrifices to start her pro career and broke the spell of second place that stuck with her career since the 2009 NCAA championships, when she was second in the 1,500. She also was the runner-up at the 2012 U.S. indoor championships and 2013 and 2015 outdoor meets.

http://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/index.ssf/2016/03/1500-meter_usa_indoor_track_ti.html
courtesy The Oregonian
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Keith Conning: Brenda Martinez (New Balance; UC Riverside 2010; Rancho Cucamonga HS, CA 2005) pb 4:00.94 2013