Tony's Take Presents Female Athletes Of The Year: Jaimie Robinson Leads Incredible Group


Girls Athlete of the year-

Great athletes come around now and then, but exceptional athletes are once in a generation. Jaimie Robinson was destined to be exceptional in a matter of time. 2016 was a breakout season for Robinson who had previously competed at Chicago (De La Salle) before transferring to emerging powerhouse Homewood-Flossmoor. Robinson put the stamp "The Jaimie" on her competition numerous times by winning the 100,200,TJ, LJ in major competitions.

Robinson went to work on her strengths and few weaknesses during last fall. It was improving her jumping technique and speed. She successfully did both in 2017. The daughter of a former NBA star Glen Robinson possessed the natural gifts required to be exceptional, but it was the intense inner fortitute that put Ms. Robinson over the top. Robinson cements herself atop the young lady Mt. Rushmore of Illinois if there ever was one.

Ms. Robinson started her senior season off with a great indoor campaign in which she went undefeated in the long jump and topping it all with an Illinois Prep Top Times titles in all-time fashion 19-11. The mark was also US#9 at season's end. But it was the triple jump that really got the juices flowing for Robinson. As the complex event is described by Robinson herself: "the triple jump is my baby." Only two competitions against the nation's top leaper Jasmine Moore (Mansfield, TX) marred a perfect season. But Robinson got the last laugh in defeating Moore at US Junior Nationals and stopping her great undefeated sophomore season.

Key stats:

Indoor-

  • US#9/IL#1 indoor long performer w/19-11 all-time indoor record and Illinois Top Times Meet record
  • US#5/IL#1 41-8.50 all-time indoor triple jump performer with a solid third place finish at New Balance Indoor Nationals
  • Won the Illinois Top Times 200m in a personal best 25.00 (IL#4)

Outdoor-

  • Set Illinois all-time best/all-conditions and US #1 triple jump with a monster leap 44-4! 
  • Robinson wins US Junior National title w/legal US#1 43.10.50 (+1.5) and becoming #7 all-time performer in history of the event
  • Won state 200m in 24.82 (-3.1); ran IL#2 24.11 (+1.4)
  • Clocked personal best 100m in IL#5 11.80 (+1.6)


Thoughts from the starlette herself:

"Champions are made from something deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vison, a goal." - -

Performing every weekend under pressure just made me want to do well and show everyone what I'm made of. I always kept in my mind that this (track and field) is what I love to do and if everything doesn't turn out right then it wasn't the end of the world because I can learn from my mistakes and know what I can do better next time.

My season was very successful because i stayed true to myself and worked as hard as could with school work, waking up early and trying to have a social life. As far as being a teenager, I could do regular things because I knew what I wanted to do, what I didn't want to do and what I shouldn't do. I had most of my fun during preseason so when track season came about most of social events didn't interfere with practice or meets. My thoughts on making my first international team is an honor and a blessing. I'm still in shock that my dream has came true. I've always wanted to make a USA team since my sophomore year. I feel honored to represent my country because this is my homeland, the only place I know best and feel safe in. I worked really hard for it and I'm super excited i get to go to Peru.