James Robinson (distance runner)
Encyclopedia
James J. Robinson, Jr. is a former American
middle distance runner
. He was the dominant American 800 meters runner from the mid-1970s through the mid 1980. He ran in the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal, Canada, finishing fifth in his semi-final and not making the final. He was on the ill fated 1980 U.S. Olympic team that did not get to compete due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott.
His international achievements included a silver medal at the 1979 IAAF World Cup
and 1981 IAAF World Cup
and a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games
. He also finished fifth in the 1983 World Championships in Athletics
. Domestically he won the American title at 880 yard or 800 meters 7 times including five times in a row between 1978 and 1982. During that same period while Robinson was the best outdoors, he did not win a single Indoor title. The answer to this was that Robinson's strategy didn't work on the short straightaways indoors.
Robinson's notable strategy was to come from behind, with the late rush on the home stretch always thrilling the crowd. When this strategy evaded him, it almost always looked like a mere strategic error, rather than being beaten by the competition. In the 1984 Olympic Trials
in what may have been the most thrilling American 800 meter race ever, Robinson finished in fourth place, not making the team, while having exactly the same time as the third place qualifier John Marshall (1:43.92 - a lifetime best for both men). A step ahead, Earl Jones
and Johnny Gray
were breaking Rick Wohlhuter
's American record (1:43.91) with each running the same time (1:43.74). See the race on youtube Robinson ran for the Inner City Track Club after college.
Robinson ran for McClymonds High School
, finishing second in the 880 yards at the 1972 CIF California State Meet
. Next he ran for Laney College
, winning the conference and state championships at 880 yards both 1973 and 1974, his 1974 time of 1:45.7 set the National Junior College record for 800 meters and remains the Laney College record. His 47.5 440 yards from 1974 also remains the college record. He also anchored his team's mile relay which finished second and third those respective years. And he ran for the University of California
at Berkeley, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
middle distance runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
. He was the dominant American 800 meters runner from the mid-1970s through the mid 1980. He ran in the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal, Canada, finishing fifth in his semi-final and not making the final. He was on the ill fated 1980 U.S. Olympic team that did not get to compete due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott.
His international achievements included a silver medal at the 1979 IAAF World Cup
1979 IAAF World Cup
The 2nd IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations, held on August 24–26, 1979, at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada.-Men:|width="50"| ...
and 1981 IAAF World Cup
1981 IAAF World Cup
The 3rd IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations, held on September 4–6, 1981, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy.-Men:|width="50"| ...
and a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games
1979 Pan American Games
The 8th Pan American Games were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from July 1 to July 15, 1979. The capital of Puerto Rico played host to 3,700 athletes from 34 countries competing in 22 sports, making the VIII Pan American Games the largest to date. Security was a concern due to turmoil over the...
. He also finished fifth in the 1983 World Championships in Athletics
1983 World Championships in Athletics
The inaugural World Championships in Athletics were run under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations and were held at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland between August 7 and August 14, 1983....
. Domestically he won the American title at 880 yard or 800 meters 7 times including five times in a row between 1978 and 1982. During that same period while Robinson was the best outdoors, he did not win a single Indoor title. The answer to this was that Robinson's strategy didn't work on the short straightaways indoors.
Robinson's notable strategy was to come from behind, with the late rush on the home stretch always thrilling the crowd. When this strategy evaded him, it almost always looked like a mere strategic error, rather than being beaten by the competition. In the 1984 Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
in what may have been the most thrilling American 800 meter race ever, Robinson finished in fourth place, not making the team, while having exactly the same time as the third place qualifier John Marshall (1:43.92 - a lifetime best for both men). A step ahead, Earl Jones
Earl Jones (athlete)
Earl Jones is an American former middle distance runner who won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games In Los Angeles 1984 over 800m. He finished third behind Joaquim Cruz and Sebastian Coe in a time of 1:43.83 min. Earlier that summer at the U.S...
and Johnny Gray
Johnny Gray
John Lee Gray, Jr. was an American 800 m runner of the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1985 he set the US record of 1:42.60 min at a meet in Koblenz. That time puts Gray as the #11 performer of all time...
were breaking Rick Wohlhuter
Rick Wohlhuter
Rick Wohlhuter is an American athlete who competed mainly in the 800 meters.He graduated from Notre Dame and qualified for the 1972 Olympic Games, held in Munich, Germany. He also competed for the United States in the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Canada in the 800 and 1500 meters...
's American record (1:43.91) with each running the same time (1:43.74). See the race on youtube Robinson ran for the Inner City Track Club after college.
Robinson ran for McClymonds High School
McClymonds High School
McClymonds High School is a public high school in the West Oakland neighborhood of Oakland, California, USA.In addition to being the third oldest high school in Oakland, it is the larger of the two high schools in West Oakland , and the only high school in West Oakland operated by the Oakland...
, finishing second in the 880 yards at the 1972 CIF California State Meet
CIF California State Meet
The CIF California State Meet is the annual championship track and field meet for the California Interscholastic Federation. The meet was started in 1915 for boys and 1974 for girls. Every athlete in every high school in California has a direct qualification path that can reach the state meet...
. Next he ran for Laney College
Laney College
Laney College is a community college located in Oakland, California, next to the Lake Merritt BART station and the Kaiser Convention Center. Laney is the largest of the four colleges of the Peralta Community College District which serves northern Alameda County.Laney College originally opened in...
, winning the conference and state championships at 880 yards both 1973 and 1974, his 1974 time of 1:45.7 set the National Junior College record for 800 meters and remains the Laney College record. His 47.5 440 yards from 1974 also remains the college record. He also anchored his team's mile relay which finished second and third those respective years. And he ran for the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
at Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
.