Parkway freshman Brennan Robin must think there is nothing to this high school running thing. Let's have a quick review of his first five months of high school for this week's MileSplit LA Performer of the Week!
In his very first race, Robin led a loaded Parkway team to a podium finish at the City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic. He finished No. 13 in the 5K with a time of 16:30.
In October, he was the runner-up in the District 1-5A Championship running a three-mile time of 15:41. He finished second to his teammate Gabriel Falting (15:36). It was Robin's highest finish during the cross country season. When in the last time a freshman has finished that high in a District 1-5A XC championship? It was seven years ago--2016--when LSU's Will Dart finished second with a time of 16:03.
Robin ended the season in November, once again--leading the fastest Parkway team in school history at the LHSAA State Cross Country Championships. He finished No. 12 and had the fastest time in the state among all freshman on that Monday in Natchitoches.
A little over a week ago, Robin competed in his first indoor meet--ever--competing in the 1600m at the LSU High School Classic. You might expect a freshman competing against some of the best talent in Louisiana and Texas to feel his way through the first indoor meet of his high school career.
Not Robin.
He "went for it" and got it as he picked up his first win of his high school career with a scorching time of 4:29.97.
"I just wanted to get out here and put myself in a good spot and stay smart and try to out kick at the end," Robin said moments after the race. "I just kind of sat there. The last lap, I took it and it was great."
The time ranks No. 3 in the nation among freshmen boys. Only New York's Ryan Sykes (4:27.62) and Connecticut's Tycen Labelle (4:29.50) have run faster.
It was also the No.1 time in Louisiana until yesterday when David Thibodeaux STEM Academy's Jackson Jarrett ran a 4:28 on the banked track at the VA Showcase.
Yesterday, Robin did it again.
Competing in the mile at the Arkansas High School Invitational inside Randal Tyson Center, Robin ran a 4:26.79, which is the fastest time in the nation among all freshmen-including Sykes, who is No. 2 with a 4:29.38 at the Millrose Games Trials.
RANKINGS! Top Freshmen Milers in the Nation!
It's also faster than Jarrett's mile time of 4:30.06.
"I'm completely amazed at what Brennan is doing right now," Parkway head coach Kent Falting said. "He has talent, but he's also demonstrating race strategy, patience, and poise that typically develops over years of racing. He's doing it from the very beginning. Arkansas is one of the premiere indoor meets and it didn't even phase him. His mindset is the biggest difference between him and other talented runners his age."
LOUISIANA'S TOP 1600m RUNNERS ALL-TIME
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:13.91 | 2023 | ||
| 2 | 4:15.90 | 2014 | ||
| 3 | 4:16.98 | 2016 | ||
| 4 | 4:19.46 | 2017 | ||
| 5 | 4:19.59 | 2019 | ||
| 6 | 4:19.60 | 2019 | ||
| 7 | 4:20.41 | 2000 | ||
| 8 | 4:20.52 c | 2005 | ||
| 9 | 4:21.99 | 2012 | ||
| 10 | 4:22.19 | 2022 |
Of Louisiana's best all-time 1600m runners above, only one--St. Paul's Eric Coston--ran faster as a freshman than Robin. Coston ran a 4:26.56 at the LSU Last Chance Qualifier as a freshman in 2014.
For his efforts, Robin was named a finalist for MileSplit LA Performer of the Week. Family, friends, and teammates did the rest as Robin is the Week No.1 MileSplit LA Performer of the Week garnering 43% of the vote.
Central Lafourche shot putter Kaden Adams, who has a state-leading mark of 49-10.5 from his runner-up finish at the LSU High School Classic, was second in the voting with 36%.
Robin will now move on to compete for MileSplit LA Indoor Athlete of the Year at the end of February.