Athlete 1979 - 1982
Looking at all that Martin Jaqua was involved with during his time at Linfield College and continuing well after, it would be easy to conclude he was a long-distance runner.
If he wasn’t mastering the javelin, shot put, discus or hammer in the springtime as a four-year member of the track and field team, he was competing on the defensive line or place-kicking with the football team in the fall.
His interests extended beyond sports. He could often be found singing acapella in the choir, or serving as co-sports director and commentator for football, women’s basketball and volleyball broadcasts on campus station KSLC.
A 1982 NAIA track and field All-American, Jaqua placed fifth nationally in the discus and 12th in the hammer at the NAIA Outdoor Championships. He also earned NAIA Academic All-American honors the same year.
Jaqua was a three-time Northwest Conference discus champion from 1980 through 1982 and a two-time NAIA District II champion to cap his final two seasons. He won the 1982 NWC title in the hammer and was District II runner-up in that event in 1980 and 1982.
A valuable member of the track and field program during his years as a Wildcat, Jaqua received the Linfield “Top Cat” award in 1982, the “Outstanding Field Event Athlete” award in 1981 and 1982 and the “Most Improved Athlete” award in 1980.
George Oja, track and field coach at the time, said of Jaqua: “A perusal of his competitive record demonstrates just how valuable he was to our track and field program.”
Jaqua continued to compete after graduating from Linfield, winning the USA Track & Field National Masters Championship in the discus in 1992 and 1993 and the shot put in 1993. Multiple times, he won State Games of Oregon championships in the shot put, discus and javelin.
Graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in history, Jaqua went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1985. He was then admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1986 and the Washington State Bar in 1987. He currently practices with Rickles Law Firm based in Portland.
Jaqua and his partner of over 18 years, Patty Langdon, enjoy gardening and traveling. When he can, Jaqua likes to hunt and fish along with bird watching.
