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Robin Mayo was one of the best small-college track & field athletes in the country during the early 1980s, combining for four All-American honors, and the Wooster student even had aspirations of qualifying for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Ironically, the Columbus, Ohio, native experienced a bit of southern California before her standout career with the Scotties as she spent an academic year at USC, then decided that a smaller school with more personalized attention was a much better fit.
Then-head coach Craig Penney was thrilled to welcome Mayo to Wooster’s fledgling program in 1981, saying “I was really happy to find out how talented she was.” It took just a couple of meets for Mayo to qualify for nationals in multiple events – the 100 and 200 meters, long jump, and 4x100 relay.
After sweeping the 100 and 200 at the state meet, which helped Wooster to a runner-up team finish, Mayo and three teammates headed to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Div. III Championships in Hayward, Calif., near San Francisco.
There, Mayo’s top mark of 17 feet, 10 inches in the long jump placed fifth nationally for her initial All-American honor, however, on her last jump, she suffered a hamstring injury, which hampered her in the sprints. Mayo attempted to run the 100, her strongest event, having previously recorded an 11.9 hand time. Unfortunately, she re-injured the muscle during a semifinal heat, and ultimately pulled out of the remaining events.
“Had she not strained her hamstring in the long jump, she would have had a chance at being a four-time All-American (in the same season),” said Penney.
Mayo’s Olympic dream may have also ended there. If she had lowered her 100 time just a little, she may have been invited to the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Mayo bounced back and put together a very successful junior season. She again played a key part in the Scotties finishing second in the state, just 10 points shy from being champions, and was a national qualifier in multiple events.
At the AIAW Div. III Championships, this time held in Bloomsburg, Pa., Mayo was part of two fourth-place relay teams – the 4x100 (49.1) and sprint medley (1:48.64) – and repeated her fifth-place performance in the long jump with a school record of 18 feet, 4.5 inches.
Mayo, who decided not to compete as a senior to focus on academics, left the program with six team records in all. Two remain today – the 100 (11.9 hand timed) and the 200 (24.9 hand timed).
“Robin was great, a lot of fun. She really accomplished some phenomenal things. It was a joy watching her compete,” summed up Penney. “Those teams set a standard that was really hard to live up to.”
A history major at Wooster, Mayo graduated and went on to obtain another degree, a master’s in education (curriculum and instruction) from Ohio Dominican University. Over the last 15 years, she has taught social studies in the Columbus City schools, while serving as department chair and summer school coordinator.
Personally, Mayo is married to Robin White and they have two children, son Edward (21) and daughter Kiarra (15).