Rankin923web

Hartfield cross country coach Rob Oates began
running when he was 10 years old, but it would be
two more years before he was old enough to join
his school’s cross country team as a 7th grader in
Brewton, Alabama. “When I first started competing,
I was dead last,” Oates says, “but I loved running and
just kept training. My coach, Alan Ash, fostered my
love of running and had a huge impact on my life.
He still does to this day.” Oates moved to Brookhaven
in 11th grade and continued his cross country career
at Brookhaven High School, where he finished 7th in
the state his senior year. After graduation, he attended
Copiah Lincoln Community College where he ran
track, and transferred to Mississippi College after two
years. Oates competed on the cross country team
there, and the Choctaws won the conference
championship in Rob’s senior year. Coach Oates is
still an avid runner, and has run in many races since his
college days, including approximately 37 marathons,
five of which were the Boston Marathon. Many
Mississippi runners recognize Oates from seeing him
at races across the state, not just as a fellow runner,
but also as the owner of Sisu Race Timing, which
offers race timing and support for running events.
In 2019, Rob was approached about being an
assistant coach for the cross country team at Hartfield
Academy. It was a perfect fit for Oates, and when the
school was looking to fill the head coach role in 2020,
Endurance
Hometown RANKIN • 41