Robert Adrian Andrews (born March 29, 1991) is an American middle distance runner who specializes in the 800 and 1500 meters. While competing with University of Virginia he won the men's 800 meters at the 2011 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He is also an Olympian, having qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 1500 meters, placing second at the 2016 United States Olympic Trials. In 2017, he became a national champion, winning the 1500 meters at the US Outdoor National Championships.
 Robby Andrews in 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | March 29, 1991 Manalapan Township, New Jersey[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 800 meters, 1500 meters | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 800m: 1:44.71[2] 1500m: 3:34.78[2] Indoor mile: 3:53.16[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| Updated on June 7, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Running career
edit
High school
editRaised in Manalapan Township, New Jersey, Andrews attended Manalapan High School, graduating in 2009.[3][4] As a senior in 2009, he set the U.S. high school indoor records for both the 800 m, at 1:49.21, and the 1000 m, at 2:22.28.[5] At the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Moncton, Canada, Andrews won a bronze medal over 800 m, becoming (along with silver medalist Casimir Loxsom) the first American male to medal in a middle distance event at the world junior championships.[6]
Collegiate
editAndrews competed in the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships his freshman year, placing second in the 800 m event to Andrew Wheating of Oregon. His more recent achievements include winning the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship 800-meter race in the second fastest time ever run for an NCAA 800 Championship race, recording a personal best time of 1:44.71 to come from the back of the field and narrowly beat Charles Jock of UC Irvine (1:44.75). Other notable achievements included winning the 800 meters at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships, beating out Andrew Wheating on the line.
Professional
editAndrews left University of Virginia in 2012, his junior year, and signed a professional contract with Adidas through 2017.[7] In 2013, he joined the New York New Jersey Track Club and coach Frank Gagliano while keeping Adidas sponsorship.[8] However, after a period of time he decided to leave the New York New Jersey Track Club, favoring a return to his UVA coach Jason Vigilante.[7] He qualified at the 2016 Olympic Trials by kicking into the second qualifying position. Later that year he participated in the 2016 Olympic Games where he was disqualified in the semi-final round for stepping inside of the curb while executing his kick.[9] In the 1500 meters final at the 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, he outkicked Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz Jr. to take first place with a time of 3:43.29, capturing his first-ever national championship.
Personal best
edit| Distance | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 800 m | 1:44.71 m | Des Moines, United States (June 10, 2011) |
| 1500 m | 3:34.78 m | Los Angeles, United States (May 18, 2012) |
| Mile | 3:53.16 m | New York City, United States (February 20, 2016) |
References
edit- ^ "Virginia's Robby Andrews, a Manalapan native, is leaving school". NJ.com. 2 March 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ^ a b c IAAF. "Robby ANDREWS - Athlete Profile".
- ^ Morris, Tim. "Olympian Andrews proud to represent Manalapan in Rio", Atlanticville, July 26, 2016. Accessed August 9, 2016. "Hundreds of Manalapan residents turned out to march in the parade that started at the Dreyer track at the recreation center and went to the high school track, where Andrews helped cut the ribbon and signed autographs. 'It's truly amazing,' he said of the parade and Manalapan’s response to his achievement. 'I’ve lived my whole life in Manalapan and for them to do this is a great honor.'"
- ^ Lambert, Jim. "N.J.'s Robby Andrews uses big heart and big kick to make U.S. World Championship Team", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 14, 2015. Accessed August 9, 2016. "Everything seemed to be falling into place perfectly for Robby Andrews. After finishing a legendary career at New Jersey's Manalapan High School in 2009 with two national indoor records (1,000 and 800), two national 800 titles, and a meet record victory in the 800 at the outdoor Meet of Champions in his pocket, Andrews went on to set the track on fire at the University of Virginia."
- ^ Shepard, Jack (2009). High School Track 2010. Jack Shepard.
- ^ Andrews Earns Bronze Medal at 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships. Letsrun.com (2010-07-25). Retrieved on 2010-07-25.
- ^ a b Chris Chavez. "U.S. middle distance runner Robby Andrews reunites with coach Jason Vigilante".
- ^ Flotrack (August 23, 2013). "Andrews Joins NJ*NY Track Club". Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ "Robby Andrews 2016 Olympics". www.teamusa.org. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
