RIO GRANDE - University of Rio Grande senior cross country runner/track and field race walker Billie Robinson finished up her career with the now concluded cross country season.

Injuries plagued her cross country career, but she made a name for herself in the race walking arena.

Robinson was runner-up in the women's 3,000-meter race walk in last march at the NAIA National Indoor Meet.

Robinson, who finished 3rd in 2003 and 5th her freshman season, bettered her performance in the 2004 race walk. The Lakevew native timed out at 16:18.12. Robinson claimed three straight All-American honors in the race walk.

Robinson was looking to produce this past fall during the cross country season after two seasons of being marred by injury. “Billie had a great summer,” Rio Grande head coach Bob Willey said. “The last two summers she ran into medical problems, but this summer she really had a great summer.

“She came in healthy and was looking forward to her best cross country season.”

She was able to compete in every race and was one of three runners to make up the team. Her best performance came on her own home course at the Rio Invitational in October. Robinson was the top Rio runner to finish, crossing the line in 25th place after running a very solid race. Her time in the 3.1-mile event was 22:13.46, which was her best time of the season.

Robinson also has the top two times for Rio female race-walkers in the 3,000-meter outdoor race-walking event. She registered a time of 17:14.06 on May 25, 2005 at the NAIA Outdoor Meet in Louisville, Ken. and 17:24.64 on May, 27, 2004 also at the NAIA Outdoor Meet in Louisville.

Robinson has decided not to participate in the upcoming indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

She will graduate with a degree in Environmental Science.

Billie is the second in her family to compete in track and field and cross country at Rio Grande, following her brother Jim to campus. Jim also had a measure of success in the race walk while at Rio Grande, finishing second to Matt Boyles in 2003 NAIA Indoor Meet.

Billie is the daughter of Lari & Kathy Robinson.