Martin, 24, started strong against Edwige Gwend (Italy) but got caught with a throw for a small score before being pinned close to the midway point of the first round match of the 4th Annual World Judo Masters.
“This experience was awesome,” Martin said, “I am of course disappointed that I couldn’t go further in the tournament, but think this will really help me moving forward.”
“We are very proud of Hannah to have reached this “best-of-the-best” event and look forward to more opportunities like this in the future,” said Martin’s coach and four-time Olympian, Jason Morris.
While Martin represented the Jason Morris Judo Center overseas, athletes from JMJC won ten overall medals, including five gold, at the 41st annual Am Can International Judo Challenge back home in Buffalo this past weekend. The JMJC also won the senior team championship trophy.
Burnt Hills High School Senior, Jack Hatton, 17, led the way by winning gold in the 17-19-year-old division along with claiming the senior men’s 81 kilogram title.
Alex Turner, 20, continued to pile up the hardware in 2013 by going 3-0 on the day to take gold in the 73kg weight class.
Newcomer, Jimmy Valentin, 21, went 3-0 to take gold in his debut tournament in the 73kg novice division.
Burnt Hills High Junior, Eric Skyler, 16, was a triple medalist taking silver in the 15-16-year old division in the 81kg weight class, a silver in the 17-19 and a bronze in the senior men’s 81kg division.
Dave Harris (27) continued to improve, taking silver in the 66kg division and Aaron Gresham (23) picked up a bronze in the 73kg brown belt category to close out the JMJC medal count.
Next up for the JMJC athletes will be the Miami Grand Prix, June 14-15 before the El Salvador World Cup the following weekend in which Martin will be going to as well.
