Interview, Jim Tate, Head Coach, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Mobile, Alabama
MileSplit national will be periodically publishing standard written interviews with the head coaches of many of the top U.S. high school track and field teams. This interview is with Jim Tate, head coach of St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Mobile, Alabama.
Send nominations (team, head coach, email address) of other “Top U.S. T&F teams” to lknudson@milesplit.com.
School, location (city, state) – St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Mobile, AL
Team (boys, girls, both) – both
Head Coach – Jim Tate
Assistant Coaches – Aaron Moore, John Brigham, Lisa Drew, Jeff Weitzman, David Busters, Lydia Johnson, Gabe Rodriguez
Strongest Events – distance, field events, hurdles
Top (national level) athletes; name, grade, events/PR’s –
Girls:
Lacey Dent, Sr; LJ - 19’2”; TJ - 39’1.75”, 100m Hurdles - 14.22, 300m Hurdles - 44.97, Heptathlon - 4,437
Chanel Krause, Jr; PV – 12’7”
Shelley Spires, So; HJ – 5’8”
Boys:
Dan Drew, Sr; 800m - 1:55.71, Mile Run - 4:19.78
Top (national level) relay teams; events, PR’s –
Girls 4x400m Relay - 3:59.96
Girls 4x800m Relay - 9:52.95
Key(s) to the success of your team –
1. strong tradition of success (21 girls and 14 boys team state T&F Championships)
2. excellent coaching staff
3. strong school, community and parental support of our program
Your favorite meet(s) – Sugar Bowl Classic, Mobile Challenge of Champions, Mountain Brook Invitational, Battle of Old Shell Road, State Track & Field Championships
Teams you most enjoy competing against – locally - UMS-Wright and McGill-Toolen, state-wide - top 5A and 6A teams in Alabama; and regionally - top programs from bordering states
Team goals for the season – We always want to be seeking our divisional state team championships. Beyond that, to try and realize our individual and collective potential, and be a team that is close and supportive of one another.