Jaimie Robinson vs. Lajarvia Brown battles are going to be epic this season (Colin Boyle & Image of Sport photo credits)
At last summer's World Youth Trials Championship held at Illinois Benedictine University in Lisle, several onlookers openly remarked "these two young ladies need to compete against other all season long." As awesome as that sounded, it was remote at best. Both Jaimie Robinson and Lajarvia Brown were reigning and undefeated state champions coming into the summer season. Both state champions? Yes, Robinson competed for 2A Chicago (De La Salle) a catholic school, and Brown hailed for Alton, a 3A public school in the St. Louis Metro area.
The World Youth Trials would be the first time both girls have dueled against one another. They were leading 1-2 going into the final frame of the triple jump with tickets to the World Youth Championship on the line. Tara Davis (Aguora, California) who was seated third, come on like a hungry hawk and swooped the meal ticket away. Davis won with a then personal best 41-10.75. Brown hung on to second with her best jump 41-7.75. Robinson would be left off the world team despite finishing third with a great effort of 40-1.5.
It was announced in August that Robinson would transfer to 3A track power Homewood-Flossmoor. Robinson would become a Viking and in position to pursue her goal as the best jumper in Illinois. As it now stands Lajarvia Brown is the queen of the triple jump. She is rated #2 all-time in Illinois, trailing only the great Deana Simmons (Decatur MacArthur) who leaped 42-3 in winning the Pan-Am Juniors after her senior high school season (international competition counts on high school records up until enrollment into August prior to college). Robinson is rated #3 all-time and before it's all over in two more years she could surpass Simmons and Brown. In the meantime the goal is continued growth and maturity in one of track and field's most technical event.
- 100mH - 14.97
- 200m (in) - 26.29
- 200m - 25.49
- 300mH - 43.78
- Long Jump (in) - 17-7
- Long Jump - 19-6.25
- Triple Jump (in) - 38-8
- Triple Jump - 41-9.5
Exclusive Interview with Lajarvia
- 55m (in) - 7.60
- 60m (in) - 8.00
- 100m - 12.64
- 200m - 25.70
- Long Jump (in) - 18-5
- Long Jump - 17-7.5
- Triple Jump (in) - 40-1
- Triple Jump - 41-1
Top returners in 2016-
| RANK | MARK | WIND | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 41-9.5 | -0.3 | 2016 | ||
| 2 | 41-1 | 2017 | |||
| 3 | 40-3 | 2016 | |||
| 4 | 38-4.5 | 2016 | |||
| 5 | 38-0 | 1.8 | 2018 | ||
| 6 | 37-5 | 2.9 | 2016 | ||
| 7 | 37-4.25 | 2016 | |||
| 7 | 37-4.25 | 2017 | |||
| 9 | 37-2 | 2017 | |||
| 10 | 36-11.25 | 2016 |