Robby Andrews took a break from the harsh winter by going to San Diego, California. It wasn’t a vacation for the Manalapan runner. He was there to train for the upcoming outdoor track season.
However, it would have been a well-deserved vacation for the Manalapan High School graduate, who is now running professionally for Adidas. Andrews grabbed his first USA Track & Field Indoor National Championship when he won the 1,000 meters in 2:21.91 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 1.
In his previous two indoor nationals, Andrews finished second in the 800.
“After coming close the last two years, it was nice to finally get it done,” he said.
Andrews ran his typical race, relying on his feared closing kick.
“I made sure I didn’t get boxed in and was in position to cover any move,” he said.
With that done, Andrews closed faster than the other nine finalists to win the coveted national title.
Andrews’ closing kick is reminiscent of Steve Ovett in his prime — lethal.
We first saw his searing kick in high school, where he would pull victory out of certain defeat with a sudden burst of speed that made everyone else look pedestrian. He continued his late-race charges at the University of Virginia, where he won a pair of NCAA titles at 800 meters. If anything, Andrews is closing even faster now as a professional. “I’m stronger and faster,” he said. “I’ve done a lot more endurance work. I have a faster top end.”
In the qualifying heats at the nationals, Andrews’ victorious run of 2:19.85 will stand as the meet record.
The 1K is special to Andrews because it was the distance he set his first high school national record in: the still standing 2:22.28. He also holds the high school under cover 800 record (1:49.21).
He was second in the 1K at the Millrose Games in February behind Erik Sowinski (2:21.18-2:21.23), where his kick came up just inches short.
“I had a little hiccup in training in December and was not in as good as shape,” he said. “I wasn’t race sharp.”
Going into a year where the World Championships will be held Aug. 22-30 in Beijing, China, and the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, are a year away, Andrews said that his outdoor plans are still being worked on for this year. He is back with his college coach from Virginia, Jason Vigilante — now coaching at Princeton University — as well as his father, Rob Andrews, who guided him through high school.
Andrews believes that after a couple of up-and-down years on the professional circuit, he’s ready to flourish.
“I’m very comfortable where I’m at,” he said. “It took a few years to figure it out.
“You learn what works and what doesn’t work. It’s a learning process.”
One that Andrews is beginning to master — and just in time with the Olympics on the horizon.