Allie Martin, a standout distance runner at Ohio University, has demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout her athletic career. The former Preston High graduate’s journey in running began at a young age, when she participated in Junior Striders summer races with her cousins. “I ran my first race when I was around 5 or 6,” Martin recalls. “I remember the day I decided to do the two-mile race and then I fell in love with distance running.”
In her junior year, Martin showcased her talent by earning second-team all-MAC honors after finishing 13th at the MAC Championships. As a senior, she has already made headlines, recently being named the MAC Runner of the Week for her impressive performance at the George Dales Invitational, where she secured first place with a time of 21:02.4.
Health Battles and Comebacks
Despite her successes, Martin’s path has not been without obstacles. She has struggled with low ferritin levels since high school, impacting her iron absorption. In December of her sophomore year at Ohio University, her ferritin levels dropped critically low to 9 NG/ML. This led to alarming symptoms including shortness of breath and tightness in her chest, prompting a visit to the emergency room.
Doctors discovered elevated cardiac enzymes, leading to further testing at Mon Health. Fortunately, after a comprehensive evaluation, Martin was cleared to continue her running. In the summer of 2024, she was referred to a new hematologist at WVU Medicine, who recommended an iron infusion. “After the iron infusion, I began to feel much better from an energy and workout standpoint,” Martin noted. She described the process of receiving an infusion, which takes around six hours, involving an initial test followed by the actual infusion.
Martin remained optimistic throughout her health challenges, stating, “I wasn’t worried about not being able to run because I knew that I would persist and be able to recover.”
Record-Breaking Performances
In addition to her all-MAC accolades, Martin made history by breaking the school record in the indoor mile with a time of 4:46.64. “Breaking the school record was one of the most amazing feelings that I have ever felt,” she expressed. Her performance came unexpectedly as she focused on executing a good race rather than on records.
She continued to excel at the 2025 MAC Indoor Championships, where she earned medals in both the 3,000 and 5,000-meter events. “It was mentally challenging when it started to hurt, but I knew I could do it,” she reflected on her races. Martin’s personal best of 16:14 in the 5K ranks as the second-fastest time in Ohio University history.
Another health setback occurred after the 2025 outdoor track season, necessitating a second iron infusion in June. Martin plans to manage her condition with her hematologist, aiming for approximately two infusions annually.
With her strong performance this season, including her victory at the George Dales Invitational and a fourth-place finish at the Thundering Herd Invitational with a time of 17:47.94, Martin has set ambitious goals for her cross-country season. “I aim to place top 8 in the MAC and for our team to win the MAC,” she stated.
Martin’s achievements have not gone unnoticed by her family, particularly her father, Paul Martin, who is the cross-country and former track coach at Preston High. “I have coached a lot of runners over the years, but she is definitely one of the most competitive,” he remarked, expressing pride in her determination and success both on the track and in academics.
As a highly accomplished athlete, Allie Martin earned first-team all-state honors in cross-country four times and was named the Big Ten Conference Track Athlete of the Year twice. Currently majoring in Psychology, she aspires to attend graduate school to become a sports psychologist, further demonstrating her commitment to her sport and to helping others in their athletic journeys.
