Robin Rowe going the distance
By Dania Bogle
Jamaica is known as a country of great sprinters but in recent times the exploits of the University of Arkansas's Kemoy Campbell in the 5000m and Louisiana State's Natoya Goule in the 800m have shown that the country also has promise in the middle distance events.
The pair, especially Campbell, has inspired former Kingston College student Robin Rowe to take aim at the 5000m.
Though he did not compete as a high school student, the 24 year old Rowe has already achieved his own measure of success as an adult.
In the three years since he started training he has already won several races and finished third at the Jamaica senior championships in June.
From his first competitive race in 2010 at the UWI/UTech meet when he finished in tenth place in just under 20 minutes, Rowe lowered his personal best to 16:32.10 at the national trials.
"The love was there from Primary School but I was shy," he told MilesplitJa.
"As I got older maturity started to take over. It gave me the guts and I keep on watching TV and I see the Kenyans and I said I want to compete like that one day."
"I'm naturally more a long distance runner," he explained of the decision to go that route.
Rowe's first victory came two years after starting at the Everyone's A Winner 5K in 2012.
Rowe admitted that Campbell's running has inspired him.
The athlete is now a member of the Mavis Bank Track Club which is trained by coach Devon Grant.
Grant spotted the St. Thomas, Jamaica native’s talent and invited him to train with him.
His next meet will be the Grace Education Fund Run on July 14.
He also hopes to compete at the National Training Centre 5K Series in Florida later this year.
Rowe is being assisted by the MilesplitJa team led by Noel Spencer.