If you’re unfamiliar with the name Robin Lefebvre in Canadian track and field, it’s one to put on your radar for the next two Olympic cycles.
Over the weekend, the 18-year-old from Montreal stunned the field in the high school boys’ championship one-mile race at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston, using his lethal final-lap kick to break the tape.
Lefebvre sat comfortably in the top three with two laps to go before surging to the front and unleashing a blazing 27-second final lap to pull away from his American competitors. He crossed the finish line in 4:05.22, just shy of his personal best, and broke the signature New Balance Indoor Nationals tape.
This wasn’t Lefebvre’s only race of the weekend. He was also the runner-up in the boys’ championship 800m, clocking a personal best and a new Quebec U20 provincial record of 1:48.63. He was narrowly edged out by Cole Boone of Virginia, who took the win in 1:48.29.
Reflecting on his weekend, Lefebvre kept it modest on social media, calling the experience “pretty cool.” That might be an understatement from the young middle-distance talent, who is in his final year of high school at Collège Notre-Dame in Montreal.
The New Balance Indoor Nationals annually bring together the best high school athletes from across North America, showcasing their speed and skill in front of collegiate coaches and fellow elite athletes. Lefebvre’s performances from the weekend add to his already impressive running resume, which includes a Canadian U20 800m national title at the Bell Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials last June in his hometown.
Quebec sprinter sets U18 national record at New Balance Indoor Nationals
