Candace Hill is one of the Finalists
Press Release
Georgia Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductions
The Georgia Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association announces the induction of eight athletes and two coaches into the GATFXCCA Hall of Fame. This will be the first induction held in almost four years. Two of the inductees were selected in 2020, but were not inducted due to the pandemic and the association is playing catch up for the missed years. Instead of the Hall of Fame inductions being held in conjunction with the Atlanta Track Club All-Metro banquets, the inductions will now take place during the GATFXCCA's Annual Coaching Clinic in January.
This year's class has some of the best athletes and coaches that have ever competed and coached in the state of Georgia. The athletes have combined for over 60 state championships, numerous All-Americans, New Balance and Nike National champions, state record holders and slots all over the Georgia Top 10 lists. They have represented Team USA at the World and Olympic levels, World Youth and U20, won NCAA championships, set NCAA records, and even American Records. The Coaches that will be inducted have won 18 State Championships between them, coached over 50 individual state champions, set multiple state records and coached several high school All-Americans.
Candidates will be inducted at the annual coaches Clinic this weekend. Go here to register for the clinic
2023 GATFXCCA Hall of Fame Inductees:
Athletes
Candace Hill - Rockdale County High School
Sierra Hill - Landmark Christian High School
Grace Tinkey - First Presbyterian Day School
Kendell Williams - Kell High School
Christian Coleman - Our Lady of Mercy High School
Devin Dixon - Eagles Landing High School
Girma Mecheso - Berkmar High School
William Wynne - McEachern High School
Coaches
Erin Ross - Griffin High School
Andrew Hudson - Riverside Military Academy/Collins Hill/Denmark
Career Highlights of Inductees
Kendall Williams - Kell High School - 2013
12 Time State Champion
100 Hurdles -4 times
300 Hurdles -3 times
Long Jump -2 times
High Jump -3 Times
Ranked Number 1 All Time in the 300 Hurdles, tied for 2nd in High Jump, Long Jump and 100 Hurdles.
Multi All-American in HS
Ranked number 2 all time in Heptathlon
7 Time NCAA Champ in Multi Events
2 Time Olympian
Candace Hill - Rockdale County HS-2017
4 Time State Champion in 100/200 meters
2 Time New Balance Champion
National Record Holder in 100 meters
USATF Junior Champion
World Youth Champion
Sierra Hill - Landmark Christian-2004
8 Time State Champion in the 100H/300H
Part of 4 Relay State Championship teams
9th All-Time in 100 Hurdles
Devin Dixon - Eagles Landing HS-2016
3 Time State 800-meter Champion
State 400-meter Champion
Number 2 All Time in the 800 meter run
Wingfoot Champion
2-time Georgia Meet of Champions winner
Christian Coleman - Our Lady of Mercy-2014
4 Time State Champion - 100/200 meters and Long Jump
Number 4 All Time in the 100 meters
New Balance All-American
SEC Champion indoors and Outdoors
NCAA Champion
World indoor record in the 60 meters
World Champion in 100 meters
William Wynne - McEachern HS-2008
State Champion in 110 Hurdles and 300 Hurdles
Number 5 All Time in the 110 Hurdles
Number 1 All Time in the 300 Hurdles
New Balance All-American
Number 3 All time in 400 Hurdles
Andrew Hudson - Collins Hill/Denmark
30 years in coaching
11 Team State Championships in both Track and Field and Cross Country
30 plus Region Titles
8 individual Cross Country State Champions
40 plus individual State Track & Field champions
15 Athletes/Relay Teams on Georgia All-Time list
State records in 1600 meter run, 4x800 meters and DMR
Erin Ross - Griffin HS
40 plus years in coaching
7 Time Team State Champion
(Coach Ross) has spent his almost 40 years in education with GSCS. Ross began teaching physical education at Spalding Jr. High in 1970. In 1976, he became an assistant principal, track & field coach and assistant football coach at Griffin High School. From 1978 to currently, Ross was also a bus driver for all GHS athletic teams. The track at GHS is named in honor of Coach Ross because of his leadership, the track and field team won numerous state championships.
Grace Tinkley
Grace Tinkey ran cross country and track and field from 2009-2013. She is arguably Georgia's greatest female cross country runner. During that time Grace won three State Championships in Cross Country (2-GHSA, 1-GISA). She was at three-time Footlocker finalist. In which she earns All-American honors all three appearances. In 2001 she finished 6th at the Footlocker National meet with a time of 17:37. That is the highest finish by any Georgia athlete male or female. She was not just dominate on the cross country course. She was a state champion in the 1600 and 3200. She finished her high school career with personal records of 17:08 in the 5k (XC), 10:51 for the 3200, 10:04 for the 3000 and 5:06 for the 1600. Her 17:08 5k personal record came on the famous McAlpine Park in North Carolina where the Footlocker Regional takes place every year. That time is the fastest by any Georgia female athlete and ranks 27th all time in the 40 year history of the meet.
