800m Runner, Khadevis Robinson, Great On and Off the Track

The 800 meters is a tough event. It's a pulse-pounding, lung-busting distance, and the level of national and worldwide competition is very high. One of the standouts in the 800m for the past decade is Khadevis Robinson - the subject of a great article in toady's New York Times (story). Coached by legendary 800m runner, Johnny Gray, Robinson is 31 and still making finals and winning meets. His PR of 1:43.68 is 1.08 seconds off of Gray's American record, which he's shooting for, if a bit reluctantly. Perhaps more impressive than his times and his Olympic Team credentials are his feats off the track. Rudderless after a disappointing Olympic Trials in 2000, he decided to get a graduate degree in public administration and then started a youth track club in Santa Monica (Youth Track and Running Club). Clearly, life beyond the track hasn't slowed him on the track; he's realistically gunning this weekend for a spot on the indoor U.S. Worlds team.