Westminster cross country athlete selected for Team USA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Westminster’s Eric Robinson picked up the sport of cross country not too long ago, and he’s made every meet count since.

This past weekend, Robinson took first place in the GIAA Region 2 3A championships in the 5K run. Two days later, he found himself on a plane to Bahrain to compete against the world’s best.

“It just happened to be something I was really good at,” said Robinson.

He can thank his mom for falling in love with the sport.

“My mom said she wanted me to be active, and I didn’t want to play football, so we just picked up cross country,” he said.

That conversation between the mother and son happened two years ago. He soon ran his way into the spotlight.

“My tenth grade season I became the most improved runner in Georgia,” said Robinson.

Soon, he’ll hit the track overseas. At the Junior Olympics at North Carolina A&T, Robinson earned bronze in the 3000m race, he finished just outside the top 3 in the 1500m. The runner also earned All-American status for his bronze finish.

It guaranteed the junior runner on the US AAU Track & Field team.

“I had so much anxiety for the race, once I finished, I was like, ‘Oh, this is insane,’” said Robinson.

Representing the Red, White and Blue, Robinson is now one of 6,000 from over 80 countries to compete at the Bahrain Gymnasiade, put on by the International School Sport Federation (ISF).

“They sent out 65 invites and 25 accepted. I’m one of the 25. It’s a big deal,” said Robinson.

So big, Robinson is missing Westminster’s state cross country meet.

“This will be my third time racing these two events, so hopefully they turn out good,” he said.

Robinson will race the 1500m on October 28 at 6:10 p.m. and the 3000m at 5:15 p.m. on October 29.

Grovetown’s Josiah Boyden will be competing in wrestling in both the Greco Roman and Freestyle events for Team USA.

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