Lucas Martin (born 2 June 2004) is a New Zealand racewalker from Whanganui. He is a multiple-time national champion in track and road walking events, and the 2024 Oceania 5000m racewalk champion.
Early life Martin attended Whangaehu School, St George’s School, and Whanganui Collegiate School.
He was introduced to race walking at around age 12 after entering the walking category of the Round the Bridges Fun Run and Walk event in Whanganui, having initially planned to run the event but after bad weather decided to give the walk a go. He began specialising in race walking and cross-country running during his first year of secondary school.
He has balanced his athletics career with studying civil engineering at the University of Canterbury.
Career Junior career At just 14 years old, Martin won the under-20 division 3,000 m race walk at the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track and Field Championships, setting a personal best of 14:03—improving his previous PB by 48 seconds. He followed this with a bronze medal in the 10,000 m walk the next day.
He continued his rise through national age-group competition. In 2020, he won the New Zealand under-18 5000 m race walk in Christchurch.
In 2021, Martin claimed the New Zealand under-20 10,000 m track walk title in Hastings.
At the 2022 New Zealand Track & Field Championships, he won the under-20 10,000 m walk in Hastings, setting further age-group marks.
In 2023, Martin captured the under-20 men's 3,000 m walk at the New Zealand championships in Wellington, continuing his progression towards senior competition.
Senior representation At the 2023 New Zealand Track and Field Championships, Martin won the senior men's 10,000 m race walk in a time of 46:10.02.
In June 2024, Martin represented New Zealand at the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships in Suva, Fiji, where he won the gold medal in the senior men's 5000m race walk and silver in the 10,000 m race walk.
At the 2025 Athletics New Zealand 10 km road championships, Martin placed third overall in the U20/Senior 10 km walk with a time of 48:58, finishing second among male seniors.
In April 2026, Martin represented New Zealand at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília, Brazil, competing in the senior men's half marathon race walk. Martin recorded an official personal best time of 1:46:10, finishing 63rd individually in the event and as the top New Zealand finisher, ahead of compatriots Jonah Cropp and Toby O’Rorke, with the New Zealand team placing 15th in the team competition.McNab, Alec (15 April 2026). "Athletics Insight: Whanganui's Lucas Martin clocks personal best in world team race walk after injury woes". Whanganui Chronicle.
Later in 2026, Martin was named senior walker of the year at the Manawatū-Whanganui athletics awards, following his performance at the championships.
Competition records Year Event Age group Performance Position 2019 10,000 m walk (track) Junior Men 51:22.82 Bronze 2019 3000 m walk (track) U20 Men 14:03.69 Gold 2020 5 km walk (road) Men U18 23:46 Gold 2020 3000 m walk (track) U20 Men 13:39.11 Gold 2020 10,000 m walk (track) U20 Men 48:24.23 Gold 2021 10,000 m walk (track) Junior Men 49:41.14 Gold 2022 10 km walk (road) Junior Men 49:04 Gold 2023 3000 m walk (track) Junior Men 12:29.44 Gold 2023 10,000 m walk (track) Senior Men 46:10.02 Gold 2024 3000 m walk (track) Senior Men 13:04.31 Gold 2024 10,000 m walk (track) Senior Men 48:22.34 Gold 2024 10 km walk (road) Senior Men 47:09 Gold 2025 3000 m walk (track) Senior Men 12:50.49 Bronze 2025 10,000 m walk (track) Senior Men 45:52.45 Silver 2025 20 km walk (road) Senior Men 1:39:54 Bronze 2025 10 km walk (road) Senior Men 48:58 Silver
Personal bests 3000 m walk (track): 12:29.44 (2023) 10,000 m walk (track): 45:52.45 (2025) 10 km walk (road): 47:09 (2024) 20 km walk (road): 1:39:54 (2025) Half Marathon walk (road): 1:46:10 (2026)
References
External links Lucas Martin profile at World Athletics Lucas Martin profile at Athletics New Zealand Rankings