NYRR Media Center

Jason Robinson was the winner of the youth wheelchair race at the 2017 New Balance 5th Avenue Mile.

Robinson was diagnosed with spinal segmental dysgenesis at birth, meaning his brain doesn’t send signals to his legs. Due to the rare form of spina bifida, he has had 21 surgeries in his life. He practically grew up in a racing wheelchair, making his racing debut at the 2013 Boilermaker 10K at just age 10, the youngest participant ever in the event’s wheelchair division. Since then, he joined the North Jersey Navigators team, and has raced the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile youth heat, at Junior Nationals and at international competitions. He raised more than $2,500 in donations on his own to fund his way to the 2018 IWAS Youth World Games in Ireland, where he won silver over 1500 meters and bronze over 400 meters.

Robinson is the first wheelchair racer in New York to have competed at the high school state championships alongside able-bodied runners, having petitioned to participate at age 15. After competing for two years as a member of Westmoreland, NY’s modified track and field team, he helped push through legislation to be a part of the varsity track and field team and establish a wheelchair division at both the regional and state level. Together with the state, he helped create a points and qualification system, paving the way for future wheelchair racers to compete in high school track.