Sincere Robinson, who didn't start his track and field career until two months ago, came agonizingly close to making state history when the Newark Tech senior put together an electrifying performance at the State Group 2 Championships on Saturday at Franklin High School in Somerset.
Robinson, bidding to became just the sixth boy in state history to join the very exclusive "Quad Club," which consists of athletes who have won four individual events at a single State Group Championship meet, swept all three jumping events, and finished second in the 110 hurdles.
The 6-5, 175-pound Robinson, who was the top seed in all four of his events, won the triple jump (a PR of 47-10.50) and the high jump (6-2) on Friday, and looked like he was headed for victory in the 110 hurdles on Saturday, but he clipped the final hurdle while in the lead and stumbled across the line in second place. Robinson, who ran 14.66 in the HH trials on Saturday, ran 15.19 in the final when he was edged by Jason Agyemang of North Plainfield, who ran 14.98.
Robinson came back later to win the long jump by soaring 23-3.75 to finish off his remarkable two-day performance with a whopping 38 points, just three points less than what team champion Rumson scored.
"It would have been nice to get all four wins and join that club, but I just didn't get a good start in the hurdles, and then my steps were off when I got to the last hurdle and I just didn't get over it clean,'' said Robinson, who won 4 events at the Super Essex Conference Championships, the Essex County, Championships, and at the North Jersey, Sec. 2 Championships. "But to come to the state meet in my first season doing track and winning three of these gold medals is something I never expected, and something I am very proud of.''
THE NJ BOYS QUAD CLUB
Royce Reed of Bridgeton won the 400 hurdles (53.04), the javelin (216-0), the 400 (47.12), and the 200 (21.92) at the 1995 State Group 3 Championships at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield
Todd Matthews of Notre Dame won the 100 (10.89), the 110 hurdles (13.60), the 200 (22.08), and the long jump (21-10), at the 1998 Non-Public A Championships at Hub Stine Field in Plainfield.
Reuben McCoy of Winslow won the 400 hurdles (51.99), the 400 (46.77), the 110 hurdles (14.32), and the 200 (21.14) at the 2004 Group 3 Championships at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield.
Da'mon Merkerson of St. Mary's in Rutherford won the 100 (11.08), 400 (48.97), 800 (1:59.06), and the 200 (22.36) at the 2007 Non-Public B State Championships at Silver Eagle Stadium in Egg Harbor.
Taylor McLaughlin of Union Catholic won the 400 hurdles (51.73), the 400 (47.63), the 110 hurdles (14.28), and the 200 (21.45) at the 2015 Non-Public A Championships at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield.
