2020 was set to be THE YEAR for Brandon Martin. He didn’t disappoint. The Commerce star won back-to-back State Championships, and in turn earns BLITZ Runner of the Year distinction.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 10 Top-5 Finishes
• 15:27 PR
• 8 1st-Place Finishes
• Region Champion
• State Champion

Brandon Martin was anything but indistinguishable. In all 10 meets, The Emmanuel signee placed in the top 5, and won it 8 different times. He blazed a path to the tune of 15:27, his personal best and a remarkable time, and handedly won the 1A-Public State Championship for a second straight time, and a Region 8-A Public Championship as well.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Brandon Martin – 55 pts (8 1st-place votes)
2. Andrew Kivett – 42 pts (2)
3. Evan Prince – 41.5 pts (3)
4. Buck Ledford – 21 pts (1)
5. Luke Hamby – 19 pts (2)
6. Eamonn O’Bryant – 13.5 pts

Voting included our 16-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts

Nearly every runner received a first-place vote in what was a fairly tight top 3 in the voting. No surprise, as both Kivett and Prince were competing against each other all season.

HISTORY OF GIRLS XC ROY

• 2020 – Brandon Martin – Commerce SR
• 2019 – Griffin Stephens – Banks SR
• 2018 – Guy Gober – Rabun SR
• 2017 – Lance Underwood – Union SR
• 2016 – Jacob Poston – Dawson SR
• 2015 – Jacob Poston – Dawson JR
• 2014 – Tyler Grimsley – Towns SO
• 2013 – Dylan Forester – Dawson SR
• 2012 – Dylan Johnson – Hayesville SR
• 2011 – Dylan Johnson – Hayesville JR
• 2010 – Brian Elder – Habersham SR
• 2009 – Brian Elder – Habersham JR

Martin is the fifth straight senior to win the award, and the very first from Commerce to take it. He ensures that next year will for certain be a sixth different winner in a row. Buck Ledford will return, as will Eamonn O’Bryant, so they will put pressure on Prince. So too will many others who were on the cusp this season as being finalists.

WHO WILL WIN IT NEXT YEAR?

With Martin gone, as well as 2nd-place vote-getter Andrew Kivett, it stands as Evan Prince’s award to win or lose.