Ish Robbins
Kyle's Korner is a segment of the Club's weekly email that will focus on reacquainting you with a different current club member each week. We will catch you up on how they are doing with regards to their training, their lives, and other general nonsense. This segment intends to be informative and educational while attempting humor in a purely inoffensive way. Mostly.
This week on the KK we spoke to the incredibly fast Ish K. Robbins. He was super fast in High School, flew in College, and has kept on soaring to new goals with the Black and Gold. He has his mind set on big things this outdoor season and has laid out some big time dedication to get to them. The only thing that will be able to come close to keeping up with him is my bad humor.
Kyle: Hello Ish and thank you for joining us!
Mr. Robbins: Thanks for having me bro!
Kyle: I've gotta give the sprinters some love too. Lets start from the start. When did your running career begin?
Mr. Robbins: All started back in High School. 2004 as a freshman. I ran at Irvington High School under my former head coach Marvin Hawkins.
Kyle: Aahh, only two years before what I found out what track was. Were you a natural sprinter right out of the blocks? (pun intended) Or did you try out some hurdles and jumping too?
Mr. Robbins: Most definitely a natural sprinter. Born with it. My mother and Dad ran track when they were in High School. My mother ran for Shabazz High School and my dad ran for Barringer High School so it was a gift. But I did try out the long jump a few times. Was ok at it. But my coach didn't let me do it too much because I had a bad knee injury from playing football.
Kyle: When did you give up the pigskin to focus on the sprints? And do you miss it?
Mr. Robbins: At the end of my sophomore year is when I lost the love for football. I played pop-warner and high school but high school football was nowhere near the same as pop warner. Much more fun in pop warner football. But once I lost the love for it I told my track coach that once I go 49 seconds in the 400m without cross country that I would let go of football and make track my main focus.
Kyle: Did you break that 50 barrier while in High School?
Mr. Robbins: I sure did! My first sub 50 second 400m race was at a duel meet against Plainfield High School. My coach went nuts and it was one of the best feelings. That's when I knew I was gifted to run track. A lot of sophomores don't get to see 49 seconds
Kyle: Woooo! As a sophomore? Damn. Where did you run after High School?
Mr. Robbins: Yup. I ran 50.7 as a freshman. I was ranked #3 in the state for all freshmen.
I went to New Jersey City University where I ran under Head coach Steven Royster.
Kyle: What are some of the biggest moments you had racing in college?
Mr. Robbins: I had two big moments actually. One was when I PR'd in my favorite event the 200m at Icahn Stadium. That is actually my favorite outdoor track. My PR in high school for the 200m was 21.97. I dropped that in College to 21.72.
I jumped up and screamed when I saw that time. It wasn't THAT fast but it was a legit time to me. My second big moment was running the 4x200m relays at Penn relays in 2009. They have no 4x200m relay race for high schools so that was extremely fun for me, and a great experience.
Kyle: Both of those Stadiums are great locations for big races. I always get pumped at either.
How did you come about joining up with the Black and Gold?
Mr. Robbins: After college I met my girlfriend Asia Washington who is a former track star from Piscataway High School and Virginia Tech. We both were still training and running after college but running on our own. Chuck found my girlfriend and asked did she wanna join GSTC. She asked him could I join as well. He welcomed me also and I've been grinding with the black and gold ever since
Kyle: Have you had any big PRs or big performances since joining up with us?
Mr. Robbins: I sure did. I actually set a 100m record and PR at 10.8. I believe the new record is 10.6 now. Owned by Cyrus Wesley.
This year I set a PR in the 200m, 60m, and 400m in indoors. 200 = 22.3 60 = 7.06 and 400 = 50.03
Kyle: This has been quite a year for you. What are looking to do this outdoor season?
Mr. Robbins: Set personal records in the 200m and 400m. Go 20 point in the 200m and 46 or 45 in the 400m. My biggest goal is to qualify for the world championships. Trials are in June.
Kyle: I'd say you are certainly on the right track. BOOM! Another pun. Are you excited for Club Nationals as well?
Mr. Robbins: Haha!! Yes indeed! I'm ready for us to take home the trophy once again and for me to set more pr's and get more wins.
Kyle: What kind of serious training are you putting in to get ready for June?
Mr. Robbins: I now train with the sprint group's leader Tyrone Ross. He took me under his wing last summer and I've been training with him ever since. I changed my diet, more protein, lifting heavier, getting more flexible.
Learning techniques to get stronger and stay more relaxed in my races as well. A lot of that is from hills. Again the weight room, A LOT of distances over 300m, like 500s, 350s, and more.
Kyle: A lot of people over look that flexibility part. But you sound seriously dedicated. All those pieces should come together to make a beast this June.
Mr. Robbins: Yeah man! I'm a huge fan of Jean Claude Van Damme. Saw a watch a lot of his videos of getting more flexible. I never had any problems with leg injuries my whole track career and I will continue to do that.
But God willing and healthy yes come June I should be excited at the new track beast I have become
Kyle: I could think of few better role models than a Street Fighter. Well we here at the Korner wish you the best of luck this outdoor season! And by "we" I mean "me" because I have no staff.
Mr. Robbins: Hahahaha! Thanks bro! And much appreciated!
Kyle: Of course! That's all the time we have this week. Thank you for speaking with us!
Mr. Robbins: You got it man!
Kyle: Tune in next week to see who we interview!
GOLD STAR
Welcoming New Members
Megan Cafferty
By Bri Teichmann
Megan is one of the newest ladies to join the Black & Gold. Twelve years back, she tried out for the first ever North Brunswick HS lacrosse team, having never played a day in her life. Megan immediately realized that running would become a part of her life for years to come.
For the last few years, she's had an on and off relationship with running, trying to get runs in as often as possible without really focusing too much on it. She has always had a love for the sport, but often had nobody to run with at her pace (currently about 9:45 with her fastest mile being 7 minutes). Recently, Megan decided to make running more of a priority in her life, since it's always been something that brought her great joy.
Having grown up in North Brunswick and attending elementary school in New Brunswick, Megan has known Erin Varga for most of her life. She decided to reach out to her to see if the club would be a good fit. Almost immediately after Erin replied, Megan joined the club.
Megan is joins the ranks as one of the club's many teachers. She's been teaching elementary school for the last few years, and last year she went back to school for an additional certification. She's currently teaching high school special education and loving every minute of it! One day, she would like to start a non-profit, providing free tutoring services to students who are from low-economic households, especially homeless children in the state. Megan was fortunate enough to have a quality education with plenty of support at home and she feels that all children deserve this same opportunity (which is AWESOME!)!
Megan comes from a very tight nit family and can often be found spending time with her two sisters, and my niece and nephew. When she's not at work, running, or spending time with friends and family, she's looking into ways to begin and maintain the non-profit....and enjoying good craft beers along the way!
Welcome, Megan!!!
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