As the 2013 Track and Field season gets underway, we will be highlighting some of the top athletes in each event.
Journal Questions:
Name: Robert Grant
High School: Brophy College Prep
Year of Graduation: 2014
Track and Field PR's:
55h: 7.64
110h: 14.45
300ih: 37.95
100m: 11.08
200m: 22.03
400 Indoor: 50.50
When did you first get involved with track and field? How long have you been running:
I first got involved in running track in eighth grade when we ran 40 yard dashes in PE class. My PE teacher, Coach Karl, was so impressed he called my dad and told him that I should try running track sometime. I had played every single sport, football, baseball, basketball and soccer; my brother played at a very high level in baseball and I was trying to find my niche. The day after my PE coach called my dad; I quit baseball and joined the Arizona Glory, a track team run by Cliff Ceasar as a ministry to his church. The kids on the team were an inspiration to me and that’s where I found my love for track. I have been sprinting since I was in eighth grade but I currently just started hurdles. I started a month into the track season my sophomore year and I have been training for them ever since.
What is a typical training week like for you?
A typical training week for me consists of a very hard running workout on Monday with weight lifting afterward followed by a technical and light workout on Tuesday, a meet or another workout on Wednesday, a technical and light workout on Thursday followed by another weight lifting period, and either an aerobic workout on Friday or a meet.
What are your goals for the upcoming track season?
My ultimate goal for the upcoming track season is to make the world youth team and to travel to the Ukraine to represent the United States. I have personal goals for improvement of my times this year, I have been working since the day football ended to make sure my times improve, but ultimately my goal is just staying focused on having fun and being myself this year.
How do you prepare yourself mentally for a race? Do you have any superstitions?
I have the same exact routine when I get in to the blocks every single time; I jump twice and touch my toes. To prepare myself mentally for a race I stop thinking about the race and clear my mind, it helps me to reduce my nervousness for the race and it also helps me relax and be myself in the race. I have a couple of superstitions, I wear the same exact white Nike Elite socks in every single race and I turn the top of the sock inside out, I just don’t feel the same if I don’t do it.
What does your season look like and will you be competing in any out of state track meets during the season or post high school season?
My schedule looks very challenging. I will be competing in a lot of in state invitationals (Rattler Invite, Chandler Rotary, AMDG Invitational, Toro Invite) as well as traveling to Arcadia California for the Arcadia invitational. I will also be competing in the Mt. Sac invitational in California. I look forward to competing again this year against Devon Allen and my good friend Tevin Mayfield who are both great competitors. At the conclusion of my high school season I am planning on running at Great Southwest or Caribbean Invite depending on if I am invited or not. I will also be competing at Golden West and competing in the world youth trials to make the U.S. team that travels to the Ukraine.
What message would you tell younger runners who aspire to be at the top?
If I were to give some advice to younger runners who aspire to be at the top I would tell them to always listen to their coach, eat right, and train dirty. I say train dirty because what you do in the hard workouts on Monday ultimately translates to your success in the invitationals.
If you had to attribute your success to one thing, what would it be?
My success could be attributed to my tenacious attitude and my competitiveness. I never want to give up in a workout or race ever, I always want to keep going or work harder to the point of passing out. I also have a natural competitiveness inside of me, I want to be the best that I can be in every little thing I do. Ultimately however none of that would matter without the coaches and opportunities that Brophy has presented me, my success stems from their belief in me.
Do you have role models or mentors in track and field?
I have two role models/mentors in track and field. Devon Allen has done more for my track career than anyone. He guides me to do the right things on the track, is always looking out for me and pushes me in the workouts to be the best I can be. I don’t think I would be who I am today without Devon and I’m sure I’ve been a pain in Devon’s side because he’s so fast I’ve been chasing him for three years and we give each other so much, competing at practice to win every rep. Not only is he my mentor he’s my role model as well. In my opinion Devon is the greatest track athlete to ever live in the State of Arizona. My coach, Tim Oneil is also one of my mentors who pushes me and drives me to be the best I can be. He always says the right things to me to push me in the direction of success. He is also a role model, I want to be just like him when I grow up, and he is probably the greatest human being I know. I also would argue he is one of the best coaches in the country for hurdling and if he can turn me into a hurdler anyone can be a hurdler.
How many events do you compete in and which event is your favorite?
I compete in the 100 meter dash, 110 meter hurdles, 200 meter dash, 300 meter hurdles, 400 meter dash, and the 4 x100 and 4 x400 meter relays. My favorite event would have to be the 300 meter hurdles.
What are 3 things we don't know about you?
Three things you don't know about me
- I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark for an international Robotics competition in the seventh grade. I programmed the robots to do different tasks.
- I wish I was good at basketball it’s actually my favorite sport and if I was good at it I would play but… I should probably just stick to running for the dignity of the sport of basketball.
- I was in the big issue of Surfer Magazine with Kelly Slater (one of the greatest surfers to ever live).
Quick 7:
Favorite Pre-race Meal?
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Favorite TV show or movie?
My favorite movie would have to be Ballad of Ricky Bobby Talladega Nights
Favorite Meet?
My favorite meet is the Arcadia Invitational
Celebrity Crush?
Kendall Jenner
Perfect temperature to compete in?
I love running in the heat so around 90 degrees
Favorite song?
Work Hard Play Hard, Wiz Kalifa
Favorite quote/or saying?
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”
Vince Lombardi