Rebel Cross Country fans remember Toby Gillen for his quick times and the role he played in the team’s success on the national stage. After graduating last year, Gillen continues to post solid numbers for On Athletics Club (OAC).
Originally from Australia, Gillen came to the United States to study and compete at the collegiate level, first with the Saint Louis Billikens, then for three years at Ole Miss.
As a Rebel, Gillen not only saw individual success with a SEC outdoor track five-kilometer title, but he also helped the men’s team qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in both 2024 and 2025.
The 2025 national race in Columbia, Mo., was Gillen’s last as a Rebel, and after nearly a year of reflection on that moment, Gillen told The Daily Mississippian what he remembers most from that race.
“Me personally, I ran not my greatest race,” Gillen said. “I was just a bit too fatigued through that race.”
Gillen finished the 10-kilometer race in a time of 29:34.0 for place No. 96, and said that he was disappointed in the way he capped off his Rebel career.
“I finished the cross country season a little bit bittersweet — I wanted something a little bit more out of that race leaving college,” Gillen said. “I was like, ‘Ah, hopefully this isn’t going to be the be-all (and) end-all of my stock price for going professional.’”
After the race, Gillen got right to work both in training and seeking out contracts. He took only one week off of training and immediately began conversations with potential agents and professional groups.
“I was able to sign with Stephen Haas out of (Flagstaff, Ariz.). He coaches the Dark Sky (Distance) Under Armour group out in (Flagstaff),” Gillen said. “I signed with him as my agent, and then I was able to get a few different offers, and then eventually pick the OAC in (Melbourne, Australia) as my professional team.”
While Gillen trains with the OAC in Australia and altitude locations in various other countries, he gets to select which races he wants to compete in, a change from college where coaches and universities determined which meets he would attend.
To plan races, Gillen said he sits down with his agents and talks through the goals he has for the season, with a primary focus on the national championship and world championships, a level at which Gillen has already enjoyed success.
In the World Athletics Road Running Championships five-kilometer event on Sept. 19, Gillen was a member of Team Australia, and against the toughest competition in the world, he finished No. 25 with a time of 13:35. His performance helped lift Australia to the silver medal in the mixed 5K team category, a moment Gillen said he was extremely proud of.
“It was a really cool experience just being in (Copenhagen, Denmark) and being with the pros in that whole environment,” Gillen said. “(It was interesting just) eating in the same vicinity as some of the best runners in the world … (and) being in the call room and you’re seeing people like Jakob (Ingebrigtsen) and Jimmy Gressier who are like the big, big dogs, and getting on the start line with some of the best in the world.”
Gillen also reflected on the lessons that he learned at Ole Miss and the differences between running collegiately and running professionally.
“It’s a challenge having all this spare time,” Gillen said. “Then also traveling and living out of a suitcase for this entire year has been a big challenge.”
Even on difficult days, Gillen is grateful for the opportunities he has and the time he spent at Ole Miss working to earn those opportunities.
“My coach (Adam Smith), he’d always say this doesn’t last forever, (and) just live in the moment,” Gillen said. “Enjoying the whole process and the time that you’re at college was my biggest thing, because I look back at that now and (those were) some of the best years of my entire life.”
As for what is next for Gillen, it is more of the same: training and adjusting to his new lifestyle, and putting in the work every day to reach his goals.
“It’s going to be a long season ahead with our (Australian Athletics Cross Country) Championships which is the big focus,” Gillen said. “Obviously, world championships for track and field in September, which is in Beijing, next year — that’s the big goal.”
