2 months ago
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After more than 20 years as the throwing coach at Calabar High, Julian Robinson was recently elevated to head track and field at the Red Hills Road-based school, replacing Corey Bennett.
A past student of Calabar and a national senior coach, Robinson has produced several national representatives from the institution, including Fedrick Dacres, Chad Wright, and Traves Smikle.
“I love Calabar and I am keen on doing a good job. It will be a challenging one but, with the core of great coaches around me, this will definitely help to make my job easier,” said Robinson.
“Being head coach is about organising the whole programme to ensure everything ticks. I will have to take the job seriously, as it is about helping to change the lives of the young men under my care — instilling a lot of discipline in them and ensuring that they are positive in what they are doing,” he added.
According to Robinson, this was not the first time he had been approached for the head coaching job.
“In the past, I’ve been approached to lead from the front but, because of the challenges I had with a young family, I had to think twice. After discussing it with my wife, she gave me the go-ahead this time, and Principal Sian Wilson was happy that I was able to take on the new role,” he explained.
With a very young team, expectations are high that Calabar could go all the way at next year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) after finishing as runners-up to Kingston College this year. However, Robinson remains cautious about the road ahead.
“I had a meeting with members of the team a day ago, but we will have to wait on CXC results and other factors to know who will be returning. As you know, some of these guys are loyal to the previous head coach, and we’ll just have to wait and see what decisions they make,” said Robinson.
He believes he has a very strong coaching staff to help get the job done.
“I think I have some of the best coaches in the programme, and I’m looking forward to working with them to make the programme successful,” he said.
Robinson will also welcome the return of the experienced Danny Hawthorne, who had a one-year stint in the programme between 2023 and 2024 before departing. The team will also benefit from the continued expertise of jumps coach Marlon Gayle, middle-distance coach Errol Massias, sprint coach Christopher Harley, and the flexible Gary Walsh, all of whom will play vital roles.
Robinson also expressed his determination to bring his alma mater back to the top at Champs.
“We will be working very hard as a coaching staff, and, with the support of the Calabar family, including the school administration, we will do our best to ensure the team gets back to its glory days,” concluded Robinson.
Calabar have won 28 Boys’ Champs titles, ranking second behind Kingston College on 36.
English (US) ·