| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 November 1984 Madison, WI |
| Residence | Philadelphia, PA |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Event(s) | 5000m, 10,000m, Cross Country |
| College/university team | Villanova University |
| Club | Melbourne Track Club |
| Turned pro | 2008 |
| Coached by | Marcus O'Sullivan |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) |
5000 m: 13:18 |
Robert "Bobby" M. Curtis (born November 28, 1984) is an American distance runner formerly of Villanova University. A multiple-time Big East champion and All-American in both cross country and track and field, Curtis's greatest collegiate achievement came in 2008, when he won the NCAA Division I national championship in the 5000m.[1] [2] He is currently a professional runner for Reebok.
Contents |
Curtis raced little in his first two years out of college. In 2010 he set new personal bests in the 10k (27:33 at Stanford) and the 5k (13:18 in France).
In the fall of 2004, Curtis, then a sophomore, won his first Big East championship when he topped the field in cross country. He followed that performance with a 15th-place showing in that year's cross country nationals, earning collegiate All-American honors for the first time. Over the next two years, Curtis suffered various injuries and setbacks, and it wasn't until the spring of 2007 that he returned completely healthy to competition. In the outdoor track season of 2007, Curtis ran a mile in 3:57.20, his first sub-4:00 mile. He also won the NCAA East Regional 5000m race and placed second in the event at the NCAA Championships.[3]
In his senior year (2007–08) at Villanova, Curtis enjoyed his greatest success. He won the 2007 Big East championship in cross country and finished fourth at that year's NCAA Championships, again earning All-American honors. In the spring, he won his second-consecutive NCAA East Regional 5000m, and at the national championships, he posted a personal best time of 13:33.93 to win the race, his first national title as a collegian. His win made him Villanova's first outdoor individual national champion since Sydney Maree won the 1500m at the 1981 nationals. Curtis left Villanova having posted the second fastest 5000m time (behind Maree) in school history.[4]
In high school, while competing for St. Xavier in Louisville, Kentucky, Curtis won 19 state titles—12 as an individual, two as a member of relay squads, and five as part of a team. He was named an All-American in cross country his sophomore and senior seasons. In track & field, he was named an All-American in his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. In 2003 he set the US high school record in the rarely-run 1000 meter event, finishing in 2:24.79.[5]
Bobby Curtis's Individual High School State Titles
| Year | Grade | Event | Sport | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Freshman | 1600m | Track & Field | 4:19.60 |
| 2000 | Freshman | 3200m | Track & Field | 9:41.92 |
| 2000 | Sophomore | 5K | Cross Country | 15:28.3 |
| 2001 | Sophomore | 1600m | Track & Field | 4:17.43 |
| 2001 | Sophomore | 3200m | Track & Field | 9:15.25 |
| 2001 | Junior | 5K | Cross Country | 15:06.0 |
| 2002 | Junior | 1600m | Track & Field | 4:13.16 |
| 2002 | Junior | 800m | Track & Field | 1.54.72 |
| 2002 | Senior | 5K | Cross Country | 15:24.2 |
| 2003 | Senior | 1600m | Track & Field | 4:18.56 |
| 2003 | Senior | 800m | Track & Field | 1:54.93 |
| 2003 | Senior | 3200m | Track & Field | 9:12.19 |