Bobby Curtis (runner)

Professional (2008-)

In the summer of 2008, Curtis signed a five-year contract with Reebok. Also in that year, he began to be coached by Nic Bideau. Curtis briefly trained with Craig Mottram in 2008. From 2008 until 2012 Curtis trained regularly in Australia and Great Britain with Olympians Collis Birmingham and Ben St Lawrence as a member of the Melbourne Track Club. During his time with Reebok, Curtis posted impressive times in the 3,000 meters (7:43), 5,000 meters (13:18), 10,000 meters (27:24) and half-marathon (1:01:51). Curtis represented Team USA at three international championships while with Reebok: The 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Jordan, the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Poland and the 2010 International Chiba Ekiden in Japan. In 2011 Curtis made his premier in the marathon in the New York City Marathon and finished 14th overall in a time of 2:16:44. In 2012 Curtis qualified for the 10k in the U.S. Olympic Trials. He finished 10th in a time of 27:58.48.

Currently, Curtis is sponsored by Brooks Sports. He is a member of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. Since joining Brooks Sports, Curtis has won the 2013 Gasparilla Distance Classic 8k in a coursed record 23:30, placed 2nd (43:40) in the 2013 US 15 km Championships at the Gate River Run and 4th (28:42) in the 2013 US 10k championships at the Peachtree Road Race. He ran his second marathon in Fukuoka, Japan on December 1, 2013, finishing in 2:13:24. He finished the 2014 Chicago marathon in 9th place overall (first American finisher) in a new personal best time of 2:11:20. Most recently, Curtis finished second overall at the 2015 USA Cross Country Championship, thereby qualifying for a spot on Team USA for the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championship in China.

College (2003–2008)

In the fall of 2004, Curtis, then a sophomore, won his first Big East championship when he topped the field in cross country. He followed that performance with a 15th-place showing in that year's NCAA cross country nationals, earning collegiate All-American honors for the first time. Over the next two years, Curtis suffered various injuries and setbacks, and it wasn't until the spring of 2007 that he returned completely healthy to competition. In the outdoor track season of 2007, Curtis ran a mile in 3:57.20, his first sub-4:00 mile. He also won the NCAA East Regional 5000m race and placed second in the event at the NCAA Championships.

In his senior year (2007–08) at Villanova, Curtis enjoyed his greatest success. He won the 2007 Big East championship in cross country and finished fourth at that year's NCAA Championships, again earning All-American honors. In the spring, he won his second-consecutive NCAA East Regional 5000m, and at the national championships, he posted a personal best time of 13:33.93 to win the race, his first national title as a collegian. His win made him Villanova's first outdoor individual national champion since Sydney Maree won the 1500m at the 1981 nationals. Curtis left Villanova having posted the second fastest 5000m time (behind Maree) in school history.

High school (1999–2003)

In high school, while competing for St. Xavier in Louisville, Kentucky, Curtis won 19 state titles—12 as an individual, two as a member of relay squads, and five as part of a team. He was named an All-American in cross country his sophomore and senior seasons. In track & field, he was named an All-American in his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. In 2003 he set the US high school record in the 1000 meter event, finishing in 2:24.79.