TCA state champion reflects, looks ahead

Owen Coates became a track standout because of his love for football. Now, he’s one of the best hurdlers in the state of Texas.

And he’s pretty darned good at other events.

“I originally joined the track team in middle school to improve my speed for football. I started out doing hurdles because I didn’t think that I was fast enough to beat people purely based on speed, but I knew that if there was a technical aspect to a race, I could beat opponents on that,” the Trinity Christian Academy senior said. “Now I also do decathlon after one of my coaches suggested trying it out, as he was a former decathlete himself.”

Coates wrapped up his junior year of competition by winning gold medals in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Class 4A State Track and Field Meet. As a sophomore he had won gold in the 110 event.

“I thought I put my best effort forward and came home with what I earned in practice,” he said. “Going into the meet, I knew I could win gold in the 110 hurdles, but I wasn’t sure if I could bring home the gold in the 300 hurdles. 

“When the time came to run, I was feeling good, and I ended up winning and beating my personal best by over two seconds.”

So dominant was his season in hurdling that he did not lose a single race in either distance. In fact, he hasn’t lost in the 110 since finishing as state runner-up as a freshman in 2024.

Oh, and he also qualified for state in pole vaulting, finishing eighth. Ironically, though, that’s not among his favorite events.

“I have a couple of favorite events. I really like the 110 hurdles and javelin,” he said.

High schools in Texas do not compete in javelin, but summer leagues such as the Amateur Athletic Union and USA Track and Field offer it. It’s also one of 10 events in decathlons.

“I like the 110 hurdles because it’s not a long race and I’m good at hurdles,” he continued, adding, “I like javelin a lot because throwing a spear is objectively cool.”

Hurdles, pardon the pun, runs in Coates’ family. His grandmother ran hurdles at Oklahoma State University. His younger sister Izzy, a sophomore, also competes in the 300 hurdles and advanced to regionals this past season, along with reaching state as part of a relay.

Coates used to play football, but gave it up his junior year to focus on track. 

“I was pretty good at football, but I needed to give it up to see the success I’ve had this year,” he said.

He also competes in summer track, which is when he competes in decathlons. He ran unattached previously before joining Multi Universe.

Outside of athletics, he’s also musically talented. He plays the electric guitar in the school’s praise and worship band, and is part of the TCA drum line.

And he’s smart. He’s looking for an academically prestigious and challenging university, but said he would also like to keep running track.

“I am looking primarily at Ivy League schools, where I plan to run track. I plan to study some type of engineering in college, most likely mechanical engineering,” he said.

Before that, however, he has senior year, which includes a quest for more state championships — and some precious memories of his final year at TCA.

“I am excited for my senior year and finishing up high school. I’m also looking forward to potentially getting offers from some colleges and continuing to improve my track and field abilities,” he said. “It should be a fun year with all of my friends.”