MILFORD – This Spartan senior is not about to pull any punches.

Lauren Robinson has had enough of the New England winters, and she is going to run away because of them. With her parents blessing, of course.

The state’s reigning Division II 3,200-meter champion, Milford High’s Robinson signed a National Letter of Intent recently to run and study at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, a Division 1 institution in Conference USA.

“I was looking to get out of New England,” joked Robinson, the second Division 1 scholarship-winning distance runner to come out of MHS in as many seasons.

“I wanted to see other parts of the country in college. I met the coach through social media and that started the recruiting process.

“I visited a couple weeks ago on an official, and I was very surprised. I loved it so much. It’s in the city, but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s tucked away. It’s so pretty. I really love it.”

“Ever since I was in seventh grade, it’s been my goal to compete at a D1 school,” said Robinson. “I knew it would be a challenge. It’s a goal I have definitely been working toward every day, every race, every practice.”

Robinson got heavy into running with the Nashua PAL organization as a grammar-school runner and was inspired to dig deeper into it with early

success.

After two years attending Nashua High School South, her family moved to Milford and her career, both in cross country and track took off.

First, there was the presence of teammate and 2018 Milford High grad Rebecca Durham, a multi-time state champ now running at the University of Pittsburgh.

“Having someone that talented and that driven to run with every day was amazing,” said Robinson, highlight last year was edging Durham for the title last spring.

“We ran together in a group with a couple of our boys, Caleb (Korthals) and Blake (Audibert). It just helped a lot.”

This past fall, Robinson built up an impressive cross country resume and the medals to boot, taking seventh in Division 2 and then ripping off a sizzling 18:33.3 for sixth place at the Meet of Champions. Best, it is the next two seasons where Robinson hopes to again excel.

“I think cross country went pretty well. It could have been better,” she said. “But I love track.”

With a leg up on most high school seniors, Robinson, a National Honor Society member, has her sights set on a handful of goals, not just in the classroom but on track.

If she, or any Milford Spartan, is looking for motivation in the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons, they just have to look back to a year ago where both the indoor and outdoor state titles were lost by fractions of a second.

Milford again should be strong, returning blue-chippers like Robinson and sprint sensation Viankah Williams, along with rising star Renee Wilson.

“The big goal is to win a team state title, and there will be no slacking off,” Robinson promised. “I really want to break five minutes in the mile. My personal best is close (5:03.16) and I really want to break it.”

Robinson has an idea that increased mileage work should help her and the entire Spartan distance corps.

“Once you build up the endurance, the mile feels like nothing,” she reasoned.

At UAB, Robinson hopes to study sports journalism with eyes on a career in broadcasting.

An accomplished artist with her own portfolio, she’ll put that passion on hold for just a while.

“I’m really interested in art,” said the former National Arts Honor Society member. “When I was little, I wanted to be an artist. But then I realized I might not be able to make much money in it.”

Hence, the switch to broadcast journalism. Talented, sensible and, of course, fast. The Blazers will be getting the total package in Robinson next fall.