“I DIDN’T KNOW IF IT WAS REAL or not,” says Chris Robinson of his 44.15 world leader in the 400 in Gainesville in April. “It was very surreal in the moment.”
Once he caught his breath, the 4th-placer in the Trials 400H says it all made sense: “I always knew how talented I was, plus I train with one of the best 400m runners in the country, Khaleb McRae [7th in the Trials 400]. So I see where he is at and where I am at, and I know that we aren’t too far off each other.”
Most importantly, the 44.15 is an indication that Robinson, the ’23 NCAA champion in the 400H, is on the right track now after a slow start last fall. He says it doesn’t radically change his goals for the season, which are aimed at going over the hurdles, though it may change his approach “a little.” He explains, “I definitely have a broader option now, and I have more opportunities, so I’m happy with that.”
(After his interview for this article , Robinson added a 48.92 hurdles win at the Drake Relays.)
The flat 400 at the Tom Jones Memorial came two weeks after Robinson competed in the first Grand Slam Track event in Jamaica. There he placed 6th in the hurdles at 49.21 and came back for 2nd in his section of the 400. In a wind-challenged race, he ran a PR 45.54.
“It was OK for the beginning of the season,” he says. “For the 400H, I didn’t get a proper warmup, so I’m definitely looking to drop that time. The 400 was a good race. The wind just got me in the back end. It was all I could ask for.
“The Grand Slam, when I saw it, I was like, ‘This is literally made for me.’ I think I’m one of the best people who can do both events, and I thought it could give me the opportunity to train and show that.”
Blaine Wiley, who coached Robinson at Alabama, agrees. “As we were wrapping up last year, we were talking about how money is so hard to come by as a pro. My advice was, ‘You need to be the guy that not only runs 47 in the 400H, but can also run 44 seconds in the 400m. There’s only a few guys in the world that can do that, so that sets you apart.’”
The auspicious beginnings to the ’25 season owe a lot to how Robinson’s senior season at Alabama played out. He ran a PR 47.95 at the Jones Memorial and then went undefeated until the NCAA. He ran 47.98 but lost there to Texas Tech’s Caleb Dean. Then he came to…
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