Khadevis Robinson - Athlete of the Week
INDIANAPOLIS – Khadevis Robinson has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after capturing his first major European win since 2006, by winning the 800m at the Rome Golden Gala Diamond League event in a time of 1:45.09 last Thursday.
Robinson found himself at the back of the pack with 500m to go, in a race filled with stiff competition including Olympic 1500m champion, Asbel Kiprop. Robinson admitted that his many years of racing experience prepared him for just that scenario.
I’ve learned to be more patient at that point. In years past, I would be upset at myself and start pressing,” Robinson said. “This year, I’m like ‘okay, it is what it is’; I don’t panic.”
Robinson was able to move up through the field on the backstretch, and take the lead in the last 100m to clinch the win. Now in the 13th year of his professional career, Robinson not only has four USA Outdoor titles and four USA Indoor titles to his credit, but he also has a mature understanding of his life as a track and field athlete.
“Right now, running is important, but it is not the most important thing in my life,” Robinson said. “If you ask me, ‘who is Khadevis Robinson?’ I’ll describe myself as a father, a husband, then as a coach and then as a runner.” If you had asked me that same question in 1999, when I was right out of college, a professional track and field athlete may have been the very first thing I identified myself as.”
Robinson continues to be competitive on the track, while also being a family-man and the head cross country/assistant track and field coach at UNLV.
Now in its tenth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
Winners: January 5, Bill Tribou; January 12, Tyler Sorensen; January 20, Josh Cox; January 26,Ben Shorey; February 2, Ashton Eaton; February 9, Ashton Eaton; February 16, Bernard Lagat; February 23, Ryan Crouser; March 2, Jillian Camarena-Williams; March 10, Bill Collins; March 16, Miles Batty; March 23, Shalane Flanagan; March 30, John Nunn; April 6, Aries Merritt; April 13, Gunnar Nixon; April 20, Desiree Davila; April 27, Nolan Shaheed; May 4, Emma Coburn; May 11, Willie Gault; May 18, English Gardner; May 25, Kibwé Johnson; June 1, Khadevis Robinson
