Gwinnett Daily Post

Track & Field Super Six - Profiles

SUPER SIX GIRLS Track & Field

SUPER SIX BOYS Track & Field

TEAM CAPSULES

Girls

Boys

Nicky Akande, Collins Hill

Kirubel Erassa, Grayson

Anne Marie Armstrong, Wesleyan

Jonathan Krause, South Gwinnett

Tiffany Clarke, Norcross

Billy Kovalczyk, Grayson

Allyson McGinty, Collins Hill

Nabil Mubarak, Grayson

Taren White, Grayson

Julian Vann, Parkview

Amanda Winslow, Collins Hill

Ramael Wilson, Mill Creek

Super 6 History

Nicky Akande

Name: Nicky Akande

School: Collins Hill

Class: Junior

Noteworthy:

· Defending state champion in 800

· Daily Post All-County selection in track and cross country

· Holds a PR of 2 minutes, 16 seconds in 800

· Placed sixth at state in cross county last year and second in 2007

Favorite athlete: Kara Goucher

Favorite movie: "Walk to remember"

Favorite food: Tacos

What are your goals for this season? "My goals are to PR in every event that I do."

Coach Richard Ramsey's take: "Nicky is one of the most talented, free spirited runners ever at Collins Hill. She has a great sense of humor and loves competing. She would line up and compete in all 16 events if we would let her."

Anne Marie Armstrong

Name: Anne Marie Armstrong

School: Wesleyan

Class: Senior

Noteworthy:

· Two-time Class AA state champion in high jump

· Gwinnett County high jump champion last year

· Miss Georgia Basketball

· Three-time volleyball all-state selection

· Has seven team and individual state championships

Favorite athlete: The Citadel wrestler and Wesleyan grad Kelby Smith

Favorite movie: "Ghost"

Favorite musical artist: Taylor Swift

Favorite food: Jujubee Jelly Candies

What are your goals for this season? "To help lead Wesleyan to our first ever track region and state championships."

Coach Candler Baxley's take: "Anne Marie has obviously meant a great deal to our track team and our athletic program as a whole. I am excited to have her back as one of our team captains and I know that she will do everything she can to help us achieve our team goal of winning our first ever region championship."

Tiffany Clarke

Name: Tiffany Clarke

School: Norcross

Class: Senior

Noteworthy:

· Maintains 3.5 GPA

· Signed with Vanderbilt for basketball

· Three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and track and field

· Class AAAAA state champion in triple jump

· Atlanta Track Club Player of the Year for Triple Jump

Favorite Athlete: Sylvia Fowles

Favorite Movie: "Love and Basketball"

Favorite musical artist: Alicia Keys

Favorite Food: Jamaican

What are your goals for this season? "To win state championships in long jump and triple jump."

Coach John Williams' take: "Tiffany is prepared, hungry and driven everyday and she is a joy to coach."

Allyson McGinty

Name: Allyson McGinty

School: Collins Hill

Class: Senior

Noteworthy:

· Maintains 3.881 GPA

· Will run in college at UGA next season

· Gwinnett County, Region 7-AAAAA and state runner-up in 3,200

· Expert jewelry finder on runs

Favorite Athlete: Steve Prefontaine

Favorite Artist: U2

Favorite Food: Red Beans and Rice

What are your goals for the season? "To run PRs in the 800, 1,600, and 3200 and to qualify for state in the 3,200"

Coach Richard Ramsey's take: "Allyson is an incredible leader and motivator on this team. She nurtures the freshman and makes everyone feel a part of this family. One of the hardest workers I have ever coached."

Taren White

Name: Taren White

School: Grayson

Class: Junior

Noteworthy:

· Two-time Gwinnett County and Region 8-AAAAA champion in the 100 and 200

· Placed third at state meet in 200 and fourth in 100 in 2007

· Placed third at state meet in 100 and fifth in 200 in 2008

· Member of 2007-08 all-county basketball team

· Member of the Dec. 2008 Gwinnett Tip Off Club team of the month

· Holds personal best times of 11.92 seconds in 100 and 24.65 in 200

Favorite athlete: Becky Hammon

Favorite movie: "Parent Trap"

Favorite food: Pizza and Chicken

What are your goals for this season? "To win region and state."

Coach's Kristy Rhine's take: "Plain and simple - Taren is fun to coach and fun to watch. I love to be a part of the excitement every time she steps into the blocks."

Amanda Winslow

Name: Amanda Winslow

School: Collins Hill

Class: Senior

Noteworthy:

· All-American in the mile and 1,600 relay

· Won 1,600 and 3,200 state titles last season

· Georgia Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year

· Two-time state champion in cross country

· Maintains 3.85 GPA

Favorite Athlete: Shalane Flanagan

Favorite Movie: "Madagascar"

Favorite Food: Steak Fajitas

What are your goals for this season? "To keep getting faster in everything from the 400 up. I don't want to limit myself to any specific time goals."

Coach Richard Ramsey's take: "Amanda is very thorough and meticulous when it comes to training. She leaves nothing to chance. Extremely tough and focused mentally. She leads by example every day."

SUPER SIX HISTORY

A look back at the Daily Post's Super Six TRACK AND FIELD selections from the previous years:

BOYS

2008

Terence Davis, Brookwood

Gary Ellis, Collins Hill

Eric Griffin, Brookwood

Robert Jackson, Brookwood

Marcelis Lynch, Parkview

A.J. Mackey, Brookwood

2007

Cameron Cheek, Mill Creek

Terrence Davis, Brookwood

Eric Gill, Collins Hill

Marcelis Lynch, Parkview

Girma Mecheso, Berkmar

Justin Schneider, GAC

2006

Cameron Cheek, Mill Creek

Brandon Erwin, Grayson

Nathan Frasier, Collins HIll

Sam Henley, Brookwood

Israel Machovec, Dacula

Michael Martin, Parkview

GIRLS

2008

Anne Marie Armstrong, Wesleyan

Imani Ellis, Collins Hill

Symone Glover, Collins Hill

Eve Machovec, Dacula

Taren White, Grayson

Amanda Winslow, Collins Hill

2007

Danielle Davenport, Norcross

Jackie Drouin, Collins Hill

Brittany Hall, Meadowcreek

Eve Machovec, Dacula

Nicole Okolo, Collins Hill

Erica Penk, Dacula

2006

Jackie Drouin, Collins Hill

Brittany Hall, Meadowcreek

Eve Machovec, Dacula

Maya Moore, Collins Hill

Nicole Okolo, Collins HIll

Erica Penk, Dacula