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After serving over 20 years as the throws coach at Calabar High School, Julian Robinson has now been elevated to head track and field coach at the Red Hills Road-based institution, replacing Corey Bennett, whose three-year contract was not renewed.

A past student of the institution and a national senior coach, Robinson has also produced several national representatives from Calabar High, including Fedrick Dacres, Chad Wright and Travis Smikle.

He is very upbeat about his new role.

"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, as I expect the athletes to excel," said Robinson.

"Being the 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 explained.

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 shared.

With a very young team, expectations are high that Calabar High could go all the way next year -- after finishing as runners-up to Kingston College (KC) this year -- and win their first title since 2018.

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.

Also, 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 and throws coach Marlon Gayle, middle-distance coach Errol Massias, sprint coach Christopher Harley, and the flexible Gary Walsh, all of whom will play vital roles.

The new coach also expressed his determination to bring his alma mater back to the top at the ISSA Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships.

"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," Robinson said.

Calabar have won 28 titles at the ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships, ranking second behind KC with 36.

sports@gleanerjm.com