Robert Howard (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Robert Howard was an American world-class triple
and long jump
er and a nine-time NCAA collegiate champion.
in 1994. His top triple jump while competing in the high school ranks was 51-5.75 (15.69m). He received the Tom Doherty Memorial Award as the state's male athlete of the year.
, where he would follow in the footsteps of such luminary jumpers as Mike Conley, Sr., Edrick Floreal
, Jérôme Romain
, Brian Wellman
and Erick Walder
.
Putting his own stamp on the track program, Howard won nine individual collegiate championships while jumping for Arkansas:
During this time, the Razorback team, under the guidance of legendary coach John McDonnell
, itself won seven of the eight available NCAA team titles, indoors and out.
Howard competed at the 1997 World University Games
, finishing third in the triple jump. In 1997, he was named Collegiate Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News magazine for winning all four jumps in the two NCAA championship competitions.
All of Howard’s personal records were set while he was a collegian:
Howard graduated from the university in 1998 with a bachelors degree in pre-medicine/microbiology
.
Howard qualified for the US Olympic team in the triple jump twice, making the finals in both Atlanta
and Sydney
. He finished seventh in 1996 and eighth in 2000. He won the triple jump competition at the 2000 Olympic Trials with a leap of 55-9 (16.99). His best finish in USATF competitions was a second in the triple jump in 2001.
Admitted to medical school
in 1999, Howard worked in his jumping around his schooling, studying at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
to be a neurosurgeon. He had deferred his medical studies for one year to train for the 2000 Olympics and again for the 2004 Olympics. He finished fifth in the 2004 Olympic Trials, falling short in his attempt to make the Olympic team for the third time.
in Athens, Howard is believed to have murdered his wife, Robin Mitchell, a chief neurosurgery resident at UAMS, and later leapt to his death from the 10th story of a medical school dormitory. Police found Mitchell dead in the couple’s bed with multiple stab wounds.
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
and long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
er and a nine-time NCAA collegiate champion.
High school
Howard graduated from Shea High School in Pawtucket, Rhode IslandPawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
in 1994. His top triple jump while competing in the high school ranks was 51-5.75 (15.69m). He received the Tom Doherty Memorial Award as the state's male athlete of the year.
Collegiate career
In choosing a college, Howard elected to follow in the lengthy horizontal jumping tradition at the University of ArkansasArkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
, where he would follow in the footsteps of such luminary jumpers as Mike Conley, Sr., Edrick Floreal
Edrick Floreal
Edrick Floreal is a retired long and triple jumper from Canada. He represented Canada at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988...
, Jérôme Romain
Jérôme Romain
Jérôme Romain is a former world-class track and field athlete who competed mainly in the triple jump....
, Brian Wellman
Brian Wellman
Brian Wellman is a former triple jumper from Bermuda, who became indoor world champion in 1995, setting a new championship record of 17.72. His personal best outdoors was 17.62 metres. Both these marks are Bermudian records. In addition, he has a wind-assisted mark of 17.75 metres...
and Erick Walder
Erick Walder
Erick Walder is an American long jumper.His personal best was 8.74 meters, achieved in April 1994 in El Paso.-Collegiate career:...
.
Putting his own stamp on the track program, Howard won nine individual collegiate championships while jumping for Arkansas:
| Event | Years won |
|---|---|
| NCAA Indoor Triple Jump | 1996, 1997, 1999 |
| NCAA Indoor Long Jump | 1997 |
| NCAA Outdoor Triple Jump | 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| NCAA Outdoor Long Jump | 1997, 1998 |
During this time, the Razorback team, under the guidance of legendary coach John McDonnell
John McDonnell (coach)
John McDonnell is the retired head coach for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks track team. He began as the cross country track coach for the University in 1972 and became head track coach in 1978...
, itself won seven of the eight available NCAA team titles, indoors and out.
Howard competed at the 1997 World University Games
Athletics at the 1997 Summer Universiade
The Athletics Tournament at the 1997 Summer Universiade took place in the Stadio Cibali in Catania, Sicily at the end of August 1997, shortly after the World Championships in Athens, Greece. New events were the women's hammer throw, pole vault and half marathon competition.-Men’s events:-Women’s...
, finishing third in the triple jump. In 1997, he was named Collegiate Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News magazine for winning all four jumps in the two NCAA championship competitions.
All of Howard’s personal records were set while he was a collegian:
| Event | Outdoors best | Year | Indoors best | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple Jump | 17.11m | 1998 | 17.04m | 1997 |
| Long Jump | 8.40m | 1997 | 8.16m | 1997 |
Howard graduated from the university in 1998 with a bachelors degree in pre-medicine/microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
.
Professional career
In 1999, Howard missed the majority of the season with an injury.Howard qualified for the US Olympic team in the triple jump twice, making the finals in both Atlanta
Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Men's triple jump
The final of the Men's Triple Jump event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia was held on July 27, 1996. There were a total of 43 participating athletes, with two qualifying groups. The top twelve and ties, and all those reaching 17.00 metres advanced to the final...
and Sydney
Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's triple jump
The Men's Triple Jump event at the 2000 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics program was held at the Olympic Stadium.The triple jump has been ever present since the beginning of the modern Olympic Games in 1896....
. He finished seventh in 1996 and eighth in 2000. He won the triple jump competition at the 2000 Olympic Trials with a leap of 55-9 (16.99). His best finish in USATF competitions was a second in the triple jump in 2001.
Admitted to medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
in 1999, Howard worked in his jumping around his schooling, studying at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is part of the University of Arkansas System, a state-run university in the U.S. state of Arkansas...
to be a neurosurgeon. He had deferred his medical studies for one year to train for the 2000 Olympics and again for the 2004 Olympics. He finished fifth in the 2004 Olympic Trials, falling short in his attempt to make the Olympic team for the third time.
Rankings
During his career, Howard was ranked among the top jumpers in the US by Track and Field News.| Year | Event | World rank | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Triple Jump | 10th | 3rd |
| 1997 | Triple Jump | - | 2nd |
| Long Jump | - | 7th | |
| 1998 | Triple Jump | - | 2nd |
| Long Jump | - | 9th | |
| 1998 | Triple Jump | - | 2nd |
| Long Jump | - | 9th | |
| 2000 | Triple Jump | - | 1st |
| Long Jump | - | 5th | |
| 2001 | Triple Jump | - | 3rd |
| Long Jump | - | 9th | |
| 2002 | Triple Jump | - | 9th |
Death
On August 14th, 2004, shortly after his failure to make the Olympic team and in the opening hours of the 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Howard is believed to have murdered his wife, Robin Mitchell, a chief neurosurgery resident at UAMS, and later leapt to his death from the 10th story of a medical school dormitory. Police found Mitchell dead in the couple’s bed with multiple stab wounds.