Teen Norre Robinson Sprinting To Success
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Norre Robinson, a Bermudian sprinter, is on the fast track to success after an astonishing rise in the sport, having taken it up less than a year ago.
Such has been his rapid ascent, Robinson has been granted a universality spot in the 100 metres for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, which run from August 27 to 31.
At just 16, Robinson’s raw speed and dedication have already made him a standout talent.
Robinson began training with DeVon Bean, the Bermuda National Athletics Association [BNAA] director of athletics, last September.
From the start, his natural speed and eagerness to master sprinting mechanics caught the attention of his coach and others in the athletics community.
“He’s a very intelligent young man and dissects everything,” Bean told Bernews. “He makes me delve into my memory bank and understands certain concepts pretty quickly.”
In a remarkable debut season, Robinson qualified for the prestigious Carifta Games in St George’s, Grenada, in April.
Competing in the 100 and 200 metres, Robinson reached the semi-finals, clocking an impressive 10.94 seconds in the 100 and 22.0 in the 200.
Building on his early success, Robinson claimed second place in the 100 in 10.62 at the BNAA National Championships and Challenge in June.
The Warwick Academy student continued to shine at the Bahamas National Championships, winning the 100 B final in 10.74.
Though the A final is reserved for Bahamian athletes, Robinson’s heat time of 10.85 placed him among the eight fastest runners in the competition, further solidifying his status as one of the most promising young Bermudian track and field athletes.
“Once I realised what I had on my hands after Carifta, I revamped his training programme,” said Bean, who competed in the 100 at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. “I hadn’t overloaded him because his training age was zero.
“I chose to stay away from certain training concepts until that point because I didn’t think his body could handle it.”
Bean said Robinson, who is his cousin, has also been working closely with performance therapist Bakari Simons, who has improved the teenager’s nutrition, sleep habits, and strength and conditioning.
“Bakari’s the mechanic of the car, whereas I teach Norre how to drive the car!” Bean said.
Bean believes the World Athletics Under-20 Championships will serve as an opportunity to further Robinson’s athletics education and tipped him to be a medal contender at the Carifta Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Norre’s personal best in 100 [10.56] is one hundredth of a second off the qualifying standard for the World Athletics Under-23 Championships,” Bean added.
“He’s also closing in on Kyle Webb’s national junior record of 10.54.
Bean’s confidence in Robinson’s trajectory is clear: “Medalling in sprint events in our region is incredibly tough, but Norre could potentially medal at Carifta next year.”
