The 21-year-old dropped a 1min. 51.15sec. run in his outdoor track season opener at BMC Trafford during a successful trip where his girlfriend, fellow middle-distance star Eloise Scholes, ran a 2.63sec. personal best over 1,500m to close the gap on the only two local women to have ever gone faster than her.
Island Games medallist Robilliard now finds himself lagging only the 1-49s of Lee Merrien and record-holder Keith Falla among Sarnian half-milers.
‘Going third on the all-time list is without a doubt a massive achievement,’ he said after overtaking Tom Druce and Chris Bain to get there.
‘I’m only behind two pretty big names in Guernsey Athletics history, so really proud and of course eager to keep improving on that.’
Robilliard won the 800m E race of the stacked meet after going in with a PB of 1-51.91.
He had lapped just behind the pacemaker in 53.55 before Stoke’s Lewis Smith edged ahead on the back straight, a lead that the Guernseyman only overturned with around 80m remaining.
Bracknell’s Dan Brookling also picked off the tired Stoke athlete to edge second in 1-51.43.
‘So pleased to have opened my season with a PB,’ Robilliard added.
‘It’s my fastest season opener by about 3sec., so I really can’t complain.
‘It’s also the first time I’ve opened with a PB in about five years too, so it really bodes well.
‘The race experience of getting away and winning too is really important I think.’
Scholes continued her momentum from a recent breakthrough performance over 1,500m, which won her the Hampshire county crown for a second year running.
The 22-year-old went in the women’s C race and came away runner-up in 4-30.30.
She had settled in directly behind the pacer, who went out significantly slower than the initial target tempo.
Scholes assumed the lead when the pacer dropped out just after the two-lap point, which ultimately exposed her to being followed and overtaken late on by Bury’s Caitlyn Johnston.
Johnston edged the win in 4-29.53, though Scholes can now be fully expected to produce a sub-4-30 of her own in more favourable circumstances.
She has not gained any places on Guernsey’s all-time list but has solidified her position as the third-quickest Guernseywoman ever, within 5sec. of Nat Whitty and just over 6sec. behind record-holder Sarah Roe
