2026 RRowe
Rabbit Who Ran Atlanta to First Championship
By Gordon Pynes
The Atlanta Rabbits began competing in the University Interscholastic League for Athletics during the 1920’s. Almost 70 years of competition had failed to bring a State Championship home in any sport. In the spring of 1989 the drought was broken and Atlanta brought home its first State trophy by winning the Boys Track & Field crown. A Daingerfield fan once quipped that all Hell would break loose if the Rabbits reached that pinnacle. As on cue, it happened just as the Atlanta athletes and their coaches mounted the victory stand to accept the State trophy. A violent thunderstorm and cloud burst descended on Memorial Stadium in Austin. That breakthrough has led to five more state track titles for the boys, one by the Girls, a football and baseball crowns.
Two Rabbit athletes made the most of the winning effort. They were the trailblazers for that first State title. This story will feature Rod Rowe whose come from behind anchor leg in the 1600 meter relay sealed the deal lifting the Rabbits to the State level. Rod had only begun to compete in track as a high school sophomore. That first season in 1987 he earned his way to the State meet in the 400 meter dash but failed to score among the eight runners. During his junior year he took on more duties by anchoring both the 400 and 1600 relays plus running the 400 meters and long jumping. The 1988 season found him back in the State 400 meters race where he earned the bronze medal with a third place finish.
There were high hopes for the 1989 track season as Rod hoped to improve and win a gold medal in his third trip to Austin. He certainly had a stellar season winning the District long jump title in addition to running wins. At the Regional meet in Commerce he anchored the Rabb relay teams to victory in both relays and took second in the 400 meter race. So in mid May of 1989 a van load of Rod and teammates headed to Austin with high hopes for a strong showing at State.
As the team arrived at Memorial Stadium Rod found out he would be running the 400 in lane eight, a lane putting you out ahead of the field with the stagger. Rowe had never raced out in the far lane. His focus became ever so apparent as he slowly walked 400 meters in lane eight no doubt thinking what it would be like the next day when the starter’s gun sounded.
Then came the competition on Saturday afternoon. Rod anchored the Rabb 400 relay to a fourth place finish. Then came the 400 meter race. Favored was a Brownsboro runner who had won the year before and beaten Rowe in the Regional meet two weeks before. At the gun Rowe got off to a good start but at the 200 mark halfway through the race he was a couple of steps behind. As they turned for the finish lane he was still behind but began a charge which brought him the gold medal. His winning time of 47.2 was better than all classes except for the 5A winner. There was more to come.
More than an hour later the Rabbits 1600 meter relay gathered for the final race of the day. Carlos Simmons led off and ran the team to a strong lead handing the baton to Vincent Lawson who gave up ground but held the lead. Keino Willis took the baton next but was overhauled by a Newton runner. Willis handed to Rowe with the Newton anchor at 20 meters in the lead. Rod didn’t panic but steadily decreased the Newton margin. Coming to the final straight away Rowe burst ahead to win and set a State 3A record for the race. According to UIL archives the record stood for 20 years and now ranks 5th Alltime in boys 3A competition. That win gave Atlanta 52 team points to runnerup Marlin’s 28. The Atlanta Rabbits had reached the State Summit. A barrier had been crashed through and the way opened for Rabbit victories from that moment on.
Rod Rowe had earned two gold medals, only Martin Miller in 1970 and 71 had ever done so for an Atlanta team. Since that day many more golds have been captured by Rabbit athletes.
Next came a college track career for Rowe as he was recruited by the National Junior College Track Champion Blinn Buccaneers. During two years at Blinn in Brenham, Texas Rod became a Junior College All American as Blinn swept to another National JC title. He competed against many major college runners in some of the top collegiate meets. These included the Texas, Penn and Mount Sac relays. Running indoors he broke a junior college record in the 600 meters at Kansas State. Outdoors he also anchored the Blinn 1600 meter relay which set a National JC record with one of the nation’s best times in 3:03. Rowe posted a time of 46.2 seconds in his winning leg of the race.
Rod’s Atlanta high school record for 400 meters set in 1989 still stands 37 years later. The time for the 4x400 or 1600 meter relay he anchored to victory at State also stands as the Atlanta school record. Rod Rowe, a Douglassville native, goes down as a most outstanding athlete who was a trailblazer in leading the Rabbits to the dominating position in track they have held over almost 40 years. He is most deserving to enter the Atlanta Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026.