Don’t let her size fool you: Booker T. Washington senior track star Janiyah Martin may only stand 5-feet-1 and weigh 100 pounds, but her presence is impossible to miss.
“Being short never held me back physically—I run like I’m the tallest person on the track,” said Martin.
“Janiyah is an explosive, technically sound sprinter who thrives on precision and rhythm,” said Coach Ahmad Roper, trainer at Rope Speed Development. “She relies on sharp mechanics, high turnover and clean execution rather than raw power. Her attention to detail and consistency make her a reliable competitor in high-pressure situations.”
Martin first burst onto the scene last season, qualifying for the UIL Regional track meet in the 400-meter dash.
“That was my first year running track,” said Martin. “As a junior, I placed fifth in the 400-meters while at Regionals; it was exciting, but I didn’t reach my ultimate goal.”
The top two runners at Regionals automatically advance to the UIIL State track meet, while the third-place finisher receives the wild card, which is based on the fastest time in the respective region.
“Tears were shed, but it motivated me more,” said Martin. “Placing fifth showed me I had to go harder if the 400-meter race was something I really wanted to be good at. I had to put everything else to the side and give my all to the sport.”
That motivation led to a complete transformation. Track and field stopped being just a school sport—it became a lifestyle. Martin began working with coach Roper at Rope Speed Development for outside training and began her AAU journey with the H-town Hurricanes.
While running summer track with the H-town Hurricanes, Martin qualified for the Junior Olympics in both the 400-meter dash, 4×100 and 4×200-meter relays. Some days, she wouldn’t make it home until after 9 p.m., physically and mentally exhausted. But she never stopped.
“It was worth it,” Martin said.
Despite experiencing success, Martin admits one of her biggest challenges has been internal—her confidence.
“I found myself doubting what I was capable of, even when I knew I had what it took to be successful,” said Martin. “I sometimes got stuck thinking, ‘What if I’m not good enough?’”
Martin also struggled with managing her emotions, often taking things too personally or letting outside voices affect her performance.
“I had to learn that not everyone was going to say what I wanted to hear—and that was okay. What’s not okay is letting that affect how I run,” said Martin.
With the help of Booker T. Washington coach Skylar Tennessee and Roper, Martin made major strides mentally and physically. In under a year, she improved her personal best times in the 400-meter race from 1:06 to 58.3 and dropped her 200-meter time from 27.8 to 25.9.
“That growth didn’t just come from training—it came from learning to trust myself and push past the fear,” said Martin.
As the end of her senior year quickly approaches, Martin is getting a chance at redemption in the Regional track meet after running 58.62 in the 400 meters and 26.30 in the 200 meters and qualifying in both events.
Looking back at where she was a year ago, Martin offers advice for those who still struggle as they prepare for their races.
“It’s okay to be in your head, but don’t feed yourself negative thoughts,” said Martin. “Replace them with positive ones. Once that gun goes off, it’s just you and the track. Don’t carry past races with you. Even on your worst days, you’re still exactly who you say you are: the best.”
About Janiyah Martin:
Class: 2025
IG: @Niyahbaabiii
Events: 200-meter, 400-meter, 4×1 relay, 4×2 relay, 4×4 relay
Height & weight: 5-feet-1, 100 pounds
Favorite artists: NoCap, Huxcho, Tasha Cobbs and Jekalyn Carr
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite subject: Math
Shout Outs: Daija, Ta’Lynn, Beola Purdy, Beyunka Purdy and Coach T
