GATFXCCA Announces Class Of 2023 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Jan 09, 2023

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 2^nd 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

9^th 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 6^th 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 27^th all time in the 40 year history of the meet.

Candace Hill is one of the Finalists

Press Release

Georgia Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductions