By Bernie Puchalski - bpsportsniagara.com
Owen Robins just keeps getting better and better results at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations track and field meet.
In Grade 9, the Grade 11 student at Port Colborne High School finished 11th in the shot put with a personal best throw and had a heart-breaking result in discus when he triple faulted. In Grade 10, he won gold in the junior boys shot put and placed fourth in the discus. This spring, he was a double gold medalist in the senior boys shot put (16.69 metres) and discus (51.38 metres).
It has been an impressive run for Robins who only started throwing in May of Grade 9. Away from high school, he won bronze at the under-18 nationals in hammer throw, his favourite event, in 2023 and placed in the top five in discus and shot put, missing a bronze medal in the latter by one centimetre. He was a three-time gold medalist at provincials last year.
“I think this past off-season really made it happen for me. We were throwing a lot. It was three or four days plus lifting three or four days a week,” he said.
The 16-year-old Port Colborne resident credits Hamilton Olympic Club coaches Sean Doucette and Holly Taylor for taking him to another level.
“I PBed (recorded a personal best) by three metres in shot put after three months of zero full throws because you can’t do it indoors. I think there is a lot more there this summer.”
Going into the high school season, the 6-foot-2, 280-pounder didn’t place any expectations on himself.
“I didn’t look at provincial rankings once this year and that was a big thing that helped me get better. My whole mindset sort of changed and it was all about how do I improve myself. Even in competition, instead of thinking the guy in first is two metres ahead, I was just thinking about cues that I took from practice and how to do better than what my last throw was.”
It all paid off at OFSAA.
“It was a big deal for me. It was a tough competition and there were a lot of talented kids there. Winning means a lot.”
He now has a chance to do it all over again next year.
“That is really cool. The officials introduced me as a previous OFSAA champion and it means a lot. It is pressure for next year but it’s good pressure.”
It was a subdued moment when the meet was over and two gold medals were hanging around his neck.
“Honestly I was thinking about practice the next day. It is a big switch because I know once OFSAA was over my mind went to now nationals is the goal because it is different weights. It was how was I going make the switch to U18 weights and being excited to start practising again.”
Robins’ goal for this summer is to make Team Ontario.
“I think that is the biggest goal and then obviously PB at nationals. That is what we are peaking for and that is what my lifting is built around.”
He started lifting weights six or seven months ago.
Robins couldn’t have done it without his parents, Adam and Charlotte Robins, and his aunt, Angel Mifsud.
“It was definitely a family effort getting me to four practices a week, although, now that I have my G2 licence it eases some of the pressure,” he said. “It’s awesome and I love it. I have super respect for everything they do for me.”
His ultimate goal for his track career is to be a NCAA scholarship athlete. Robins is allowed to start talking to coaches now and those conversations have already begun.
“I am talking to a lot of coaches and it’s fun, I like networking.”
Academics will play a big role in where he decides to go.
“I definitely want a strong program and a good balance with the coach and the team that I get along well with.”
He will likely study business.