2023 USC Track & Field Roster
Roster
Poynter, Bobby

Bobby Poynter
- Height:
- 5-9
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- San Ramon, Calif.
- High School:
- California High
Bio
THIS YEAR: Graduate student Bobby Poynter is in his second season as a distance runner for the USC track and field program. He graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2021 with a degree in Psychology. He ranks sixth on USC's all-time indoor 800m list and ninth on its indoor one mile list.
2022: Poynter placed 18th in the 800m at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds...he set his 800m PR of 1:48.03 to finish eighth in the first round at the West Prelims on May 25. He placed fourth in the event at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 1:50.14 on May 15. He also took second in the 800m with a time of 1:50.47 at the USC-UCLA Dual Meet on May 1. Indoors, he placed fourth in the 800m with a PR of 1:49.26 at the Pac-12 Invitational on February 26...that time moved him to sixth on USC's all-time indoor 800m list. He ran an indoor mile time of 4:11.27 at the Husky Classic on Feb. 12 to move into ninth on USC's all-time list.
BEFORE USC: Poynter competed in track and field for San Luis Obispo where he had an 800m best of 1:50.81 as a freshman at the 2019 Bryan Clay Invitational. He ran anchor for Cal Poly’s 4x400m relay. He took third in the men’s 800m at the 2021 Big West Championships with a time of 1:51.60. He was the 2019 Big West Conference 800m champion, winning with a time of 1:51.7 on May 11. He had a best 800m time as a freshman in 2019 of 1:50.81, run at the Bryan Clay Invitational. He advanced to the 2019 USATF U20 Championships and ran 1:51.90 in the prelims and finished fifth in the final with a time of 1:52.56. Earned the 2020 Cal Poly President’s List Award
HIGH SCHOOL: Poynter graduated in 2018 from California High in San Ramon, Calif. He finished fourth in the 800m with a time of 1:51.85 at the 2018 CIF State Meet. He ranked No. 4 in the state as a senior. He had a best 400m time of 48.95. Won two EBAL titles and was a four-year honor roll student.
PERSONAL: Bobby was born on April 10, 2000 in Antioch, Calif…His parents are Vicki and Efferem Poynter and he has a younger brother, Quincy…His favorite movie is Forrest Gump and his favorite musical artists are Kendrick Lamar, Kanye and A$AP Rocky…Someday would like to visit all 50 states…Lists his grandfather Bobby Poynter as his sports hero, as he is someone who was a great sprinter and coach to many great athletes and Olympians and has been a great mentor to him in his track career….Is working on his master’s in Applied Psychology at USC.
CAREER BESTS: 800m – 1:48.03
2022: Poynter placed 18th in the 800m at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds...he set his 800m PR of 1:48.03 to finish eighth in the first round at the West Prelims on May 25. He placed fourth in the event at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 1:50.14 on May 15. He also took second in the 800m with a time of 1:50.47 at the USC-UCLA Dual Meet on May 1. Indoors, he placed fourth in the 800m with a PR of 1:49.26 at the Pac-12 Invitational on February 26...that time moved him to sixth on USC's all-time indoor 800m list. He ran an indoor mile time of 4:11.27 at the Husky Classic on Feb. 12 to move into ninth on USC's all-time list.
BEFORE USC: Poynter competed in track and field for San Luis Obispo where he had an 800m best of 1:50.81 as a freshman at the 2019 Bryan Clay Invitational. He ran anchor for Cal Poly’s 4x400m relay. He took third in the men’s 800m at the 2021 Big West Championships with a time of 1:51.60. He was the 2019 Big West Conference 800m champion, winning with a time of 1:51.7 on May 11. He had a best 800m time as a freshman in 2019 of 1:50.81, run at the Bryan Clay Invitational. He advanced to the 2019 USATF U20 Championships and ran 1:51.90 in the prelims and finished fifth in the final with a time of 1:52.56. Earned the 2020 Cal Poly President’s List Award
HIGH SCHOOL: Poynter graduated in 2018 from California High in San Ramon, Calif. He finished fourth in the 800m with a time of 1:51.85 at the 2018 CIF State Meet. He ranked No. 4 in the state as a senior. He had a best 400m time of 48.95. Won two EBAL titles and was a four-year honor roll student.
PERSONAL: Bobby was born on April 10, 2000 in Antioch, Calif…His parents are Vicki and Efferem Poynter and he has a younger brother, Quincy…His favorite movie is Forrest Gump and his favorite musical artists are Kendrick Lamar, Kanye and A$AP Rocky…Someday would like to visit all 50 states…Lists his grandfather Bobby Poynter as his sports hero, as he is someone who was a great sprinter and coach to many great athletes and Olympians and has been a great mentor to him in his track career….Is working on his master’s in Applied Psychology at USC.
CAREER BESTS: 800m – 1:48.03
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