Khadevis Robinson is an American retired middle distance runner and currently coaches both the men's and women's cross country teams along with being an assistant track coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Robinson specialized in the 800 metres with his personal best time being 1:43.68 minutes, which he achieved in August 2006 in Rieti. He is a four-time US champion, both outdoors and indoors. He has competed at seven consecutive editions of the World Championships in Athletics, from 1999 to 2011. Robinson also represented the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympics and also the 2012 London Olympics.
Biography
Robinson was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. Robinson was raised by his Mother and his stepfather on the south side of Fort Worth. In an effort to harness his energy, his parents encouraged him to try out for all sports. Robinson played almost every sport as a child but he was particularly drawn to football. His love for football was intense, yet after breaking his wrist his Junior year, he started to focus on Track and Field. Robinson states that he only ran track and field because of the girls and to help him prepare for football. Robinson quickly found himself falling into the patterns of the environment he lived in and his Junior year was a challenge. With the help from his grandmother and his Biological father, Robinson was able to avoid some of the pitfalls and started to excel in football and track his senior year of high school. The turning point came after the death of his stepfather as this ignited his focus and he was determined to graduate and attend college.
Running career
Collegiate
Robinson was a multiple NCAA National Champion where he ran for Texas Christian University and earned his undergraduate degree in Social Work. While at TCU, Robinson was very active on campus. Robinson was the Vice President of NASW TCU, a leader in the House of Reps, a member of Intercom and Vice President of BSC. While at TCU, Robinson was a multiple Conference Champion in the 800 meters and the 4x400 meter relay. During Robinson's senior campaign, he became the NCAA Champion in the 800 meters while becoming the TCU Male Athlete of the Year. Robinson later earned his master's degree in Public Administration from California State University, Los Angeles in 2004.
Post-collegiate
Robinson kickstarted his professional career in 1999 by winning the 1999 USA Indoor and Outdoor 800 Meter Championship. He eventually won the historical Prefontaine Classic. After 1999 Robinson had a string of new misses. He placed 4th in 2000 barely missing an Olympic berth. In 2001, 2003 and 2004 Robinson placed 2nd at the USA National Championships outdoors. Finally after 5 years, Robinson returned to the top of the USA 800 field by becoming the 2005, 2006 and 2007 National Champion in the 800 meters. His times steadily improved throughout those years. Robinson broke a 21-year-old Modesto Relays 800 meter record in 2005 with a time of 1:45.35 minutes. Robinson also broke the Mt. Sac record that had stood for over 2 decades. Robinson ran for the Santa Monica Track Club for his post collegiate career, coached by former teammate Johnny Gray. Robinson has adopted Gray's hard front-running style, frequently taking races out hard into the "Gray Zone." Robinson helped the USA 4×800 m relay team break the 24-year-old world record and 20-year-old American record with a registered time of 7:02.82 minutes at the Memorial Van Damme meet in Brussels on August 25, 2006. Robinson ran the fastest leg of all competing teams in the relay with a time of 1:43.8. He finished fifth at the 2006 World Athletics Final and sixth at the 2006 World Cup. He won the 800 m at the 2008 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on February 23, 2008. At the USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, Khadevis finished fourth in the 800m race, being passed by Christian Smith performing a dive across the finish line to complete what has been called the "Oregon Sweep" missing, by one spot, a berth in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. After the 2008 Olympic Trials Robinson became frustrated and considered retirement; however he decided to persevere over the course of the next four years. As a 35-year-old, he took one more shot at making the Olympics. On June 25, 2012 he ran in the 2012 United States Olympic Trials final. Unlike his typical races, Robinson stayed off the pace as Charles Jock and Duane Solomon took the race out under 50 seconds for the first lap. Robinson even trailed notable kicker Nicholas Symmonds through the race. But when it was time to move, Solomon broke away from the field with Symmonds and then Robinson chasing. Symmonds passed Solomon on the home stretch. Robinson was the strongest of the rest of the field chasing Solomon, catching him at the line and securing his return to the United States Olympic Team.
Coaching career
Robinson started his coaching career by coaching at Louisville High School. Louisville is an all female Catholic Prep school in Woodland Hills, California. Robinson also coached open and professional athletes starting in 2006. In 2010 Robinson became the Head Cross Country and Distance coach for UNLV. After having incredible success there while simultaneously training for the 2012 Olympics, Robinson moved form the sunny and warm weather of Las Vegas to coach in the cold weather in Columbus, Ohio becoming the Head Women's Cross Country/Distance coach for The Oho State University. Robinson was able to guide the buckeyes to some top finishes and some school records in a very short time. After only one year, Robinson's impact did not go unnoticed and he was offered an opportunity to coach at one of the premier track and field programs in the nation, LSU. He subsequently left LSU in summer of 2017 to return to The Ohio State University as both the men's and women's distance track and cross country coach.
Speaking career
After being well known as a Professional track and field athlete, Robinson has continued to motivate and inspire others through his speaking and mentoring abilities. Robinson has used the lessons he learned from being and Olympian and shares it with businesses and organizations through Motivational Speeches, camps and clinics. His message speaks to the Inner Olympian in all of us. Robinson feels that everyone has an Olympic size goal that awaits to be ignited. From his failures and successes, Robinson shares lessons that not only motivates but it inspires others to reconnect with childhood dreams.
Personal
Robinson co-founded the YTRC in Santa Monica, which is a 501 c3 non profit organization serving youth in Santa Monica, Malibu, and Beverly Hills. Robinson was also awarded the Doherty Fellowship to do research. Robinson is also an active member of Athletes for Hope. Robinson was past president of the TFAA. Robinson is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
