Marist College Ashgrove claimed three national medals

The Marist College Ashgrove community is celebrating three national track and field medallists, including one athlete who is the son of a gun.

The triple treat Ashgrove medallists - Joe Drew and Shea Caminiti and Lee Martin.

His father could run like the wind and win national medals, and now Marist College Ashgrove Year 12 student Lee Martin is carving out his own athletics career after a National Junior and Senior Track and Field Championships medal effort.

Martin’s dad Rob, the head coach of the Marist track and field program, still holds the College hurdles record from the late 1980’s. At the time he was a national ranked junior hurdler and played as half back in the 1989 premiership 1st XV team.

Lee’s uncle Nigel, Rob’s brother, was also an elite sprinter.

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Lee Martin didn’t get his dad’s sprinting gene. But the powerfully built youngster sure can throw a shot putt after claiming a silver medal in the under 18 competition at the nationals.

So how did he get into field events and not sprints?

The triple treat Ashgrove medallists - Joe Drew and Shea Caminiti and Lee Martin.

“I was a big kid so that (field athletics) is how I started. I wasn’t the quickest or could jump the far but I was a pretty good thrower.

“My dad was full on in the athletics scene. He was a national champion in hurdles and he was very keen on getting me into athletics.’’

March down memory lane for Nigel Martin, Lee’s uncle.

As a junior Lee did some discus, shot and javelin, and actually still enjoys javelin more than shot putt, but shot was his very best.

As a child he also played rugby and did a bit of judo while competing at Arana little athletics, but athletics, particularly field sport, was his favourite sport.

At school the legendary Marist teacher Graham Lawson encouraged him in shot put.

Martin said Lawson “gave me a lot of confidence’’ and coached him to his first AIC championship medal.

But his longtime coach has been Des Davis, whom Martin praised for his tutorship over the years.

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Martin’s silver medal performance was a PB and may even surpass the old college record of 16.21m, previously held by the decorated Anthony Mathison.

Lee Martin's brother Carl hurdling.

Martin’s next big aim is the AIC track and field in term 4, and then the All Schools nationals.

Previously at the All Schools he was a gold medallist, and he will aspire to reach those giddy heights again later in the year.

Joe Drew and Shea Caminiti.

Martin was not the only Marist College Ashgrove student on the podium at the nationals.

Shea Caminiti (90m Hurdles under 13 gold medal) and Joel Drew (under 18 400m hurdles bronze medal) also collected the silverware.

Caminiti’s hurdles gold medal effort in a new age group came in a personal best for him in the event.

Drew snared a bronze medal and new personal best 54.21 seconds, backing up after two other sprint hurdle events earlier the same day.

He also had hit a hurdle earlier in day, but he put that behind him in his medal winning effort.