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05/26/2023 07:07 AMRecords are meant to be broken, and that’s exactly what junior Morgan track star Robby Estabrook did on April 18 at East Hampton High School. Robby broke the school record for the javelin throw, throwing a record of 152’8”. The previous record was held by Cameron Williams, who threw 147’1” in 2012.
Being new to track and field this season, Robby aimed high and began focusing on his objective right away when he started training a summer ago. Following the accomplishment, Robby knew he had achieved something really special.
“It meant a lot for me to break the school record,” says Robby. “I have been training for this moment since last summer, and it was definitely a goal I wanted to achieve this spring. I had the number that I needed to break in my head; I was waiting for the official to call out the distance. When he said 152’8”, I knew I had done it, and I couldn’t believe it. I was full of pride knowing that my hard work had paid off.”
Morgan boys’ track Head Coach Jared Stevens knew that Robby was a natural right from the start when it came to throwing, and setting the record so early on only continued to solidify that.
“The meet that Robby broke the record was an unreal feeling,” says Stevens. “He broke the record on the fifth throw of his Morgan track career, a record that was established in 2012, and at that moment, it solidified the fact that we have a special thrower.”
Not only did Robby break the school javelin record that day, but he also finished in first place for the event as well as at the Bellringer Invitational on April 1.
Since breaking the school record, Robby says he is only getting better and that he wants to continue to make his record more insurmountable. His current personal record stands at 169’8”, which he was able to hit at the Marty Roberts Invitational on May 6.
What is even more impressive about Robby breaking a school record is that he did so in his first year competing in the sport, which is an incredibly rare feat. Robby’s first love was baseball, as he played from first grade until his sophomore year. It was then, based on family influence, that Robby made the decision to switch over to track. He used to watch his younger sister, Natalie, a current sophomore at Morgan, participate in the throwing events over the last couple of years.
While making the difficult decision to transition from baseball to track, Robby says that he received support from his former baseball teammates, his sister, and his parents. Prior to joining the track team, Robby went to Navy for training and learned some things from Throwing Coach Chris Campbell.
Not only is Robby a star on the track, but he is also a true role model off of it, consistently giving 100% effort. His dedication to his craft is something that has rubbed off on his teammates.
“I try to lead by example,” says Robby. “The other throwers (boys and girls) and I have a daily routine that we stick to every day. I do my best to work hard and stay focused, and hope that others will follow my lead.”
Stevens echoes Robby’s sentiment of having the ability to lead through his efforts, commending the junior for having the replicated attitude of a true team leader.
“Robby is a great model for hard work paying off,” Stevens says. “He continues to come to practice and work hard every day. He has the drive and determination to be the best, and this positive and hard-working vibe rubs off on his throwing teammates as well as other athletes on the team.”
To add to his achievements, Robby is also a part of Morgan’s varsity cross country and basketball teams. He shows his dedication to the classroom by participating in many other school activities, such as being a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, REACT, and the Student Government.
Robby has hit 147’ 7”, 152’ 7”, 152’ 8”, 154’ 6”, 151’ 6”, 169’ 8”, 151’ 8”, 152’ 8” and 154’ 5” for javelin throws this spring. He will represent Morgan boys’ track and field at the 2023 New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Philadelphia on June 18. He’s currently ranked second in Class M and fourth overall in the entire state for the javelin.
He plans on breaking his personal record by the end of the season and has goals to win the Shoreline Conference Championship and Class M State Championship for his event.
Stevens believes in Robby, thinking he has the potential to place top 5 at the Class M state meet this year and knows the sky is the limit for his senior season.
“Being new to track and throwing the javelin, Robby has surpassed the expectations of a first-year track athlete,” says Stevens. “As far as his potential is concerned for this season and next, Robby is currently on pace to finish in the top five at the Class M state track meet this year. With his hard work ethic and the success he has been having, he has the potential in his senior season to win Shorelines, States and State Opens, and place high in New Englands.”
As Robby looks ahead to his final campaign on the track with Morgan next year, he hopes to continue his throwing endeavors on a higher scale. Robby’s post-high school plans include attending a military academy and throwing javelin.
“I am pursuing a military academy route after high school,” says Robby. “That has been one of the driving factors with me switching to javelin. It’s my goal to throw for one of the military academies once my time in high school is completed.”