MINNEAPOLIS – Former Spring Arbor University standout and NAIA National Champion, Nathan Martin established a new personal-best time at the 2014 USATF Marathon Championships in Minneapolis on Sunday en route to qualifying for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Martin finished sixth overall in the event and met the U.S. Marathon "B" Qualifying Standard with his time of 2:15.47 – narrowly missing the "A" standard of 2:15.00 which provides athletes funding support. His time was also more than one minute faster than the seventh place finisher Sergio Reyes, who was the 2010 USATF Marathon Champion.

Sunday's event was just the second time Martin has run the marathon. His first came at the 2013 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships where the Three Rivers, Michigan native finished the 26.2-mile race in 2:19.18, smashing the previous record that had stood for 28-years by nearly two minutes, and earned meet Outstanding Performer honors.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the marathon are scheduled for February 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

Video of the race is available HERE at Runnerspace.com. Go to the 2:21:40 mark to watch Martin cross the finish line.

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