Girls Warrior of the Week: Ansley Gebben

First Academy senior Ansley Gebben was ready to move on. School was coming to an end and she had just capped off a stellar track and field career with her fourth consecutive state title in the 300 meter hurdles. When the Golden South Classic came up on the calendar Gebben was hesitant to run to say the least, but Coach Rick Bohner knew it could be her last meet ever, the last meet on the Royal's home track.

 

"I didn't have a chance to work with her that much so she had to work out on her own. Her mind wasn't really in it. She's looking at going to Liberty and playing volleyball there in the fall and I told her, Ansley it's your last race. Let's knock it out of the park."

 

Knock it out of the park she did. Gebben had only competed in the college level 400 meter hurdles a handful of times; last year at Golden South where she won the event, two years ago where she placed fourth, and last year at nationals where she won her heat. Bohner had her run the event twice in practice before the meet and work on some hurdle technique, but that was it. He says Gebben's endurance is what helped her edge out Georgia star Nnenya Hailey in a new personal best time.

 

"I was very proud of her for getting first because of the way  she did it. She had a great start and we worked on that this week. Endurance is where I think Ansley had a little bit of an edge. I told Ansley that her strong point is the longer the distance the better she is.  She just doesn't die.."

 

Gebben crossed the line in 59.90 more than three seconds faster than her time earlier in the prelims.  Last year at Golden South she ran a 1:01, the same time she ran at nationals. Bohner wasn't sure before the race if his star senior would break the one minute mark, but one thing he learned after the race was to never underestimate Gebben.

 

"Ansley, she blows your socks off and steps up to the plate when the competition is tough. She dug deep and broke one minute. That's just her forte. I don't know she does it. I wish I could say it was coaching, but it's not. She's just an incredible athlete."

 

A three-time state champion in volleyball and a four-time state champion in track and field Gebben is one of the most decorated athlete to come through TFA. She caps off a stellar career for the Royals on the same track it started on four years ago. Bohner says it is a bitter sweet ending.

 

"It was emotional to a degree as a coach I was extremely proud. Another thought that went through my  mind was to thank God for letting me experience these last four years with such an incredible athlete at TFA. I preach to the kids all the time you can do more than you think you can. Your mind is what limits you so every time you get on that track give it all you've got and leave it all on the track. She showed that."

 

After the race, with her family all around her in support, I asked Gebben if this would be the last we hear of her on the track? Her mom and friends in the background were hinting she'd be back, but Ansley not 100 percent sure. Bohner believes she will focus solely on volleyball her freshman year at Liberty, but after that it's a 50-50 chance.

 

"I believe she is a better track runner than she is a volleyball player and that's not to take away from her volleyball skills because she is incredibly good. Her volleyball coach said no track the first year, but they will consider it the second. I think she's going to get to her sophomore year and be like man I miss this and do it. I think track is in her future, not next year, but the year after." 

 

Coach Bohner started coaching at TFA when Gebben was a freshman. He recalls a youngster who had no passion for track and field at the time, but over the last four years has grown to dominate the sport. His coaching philosophy is simple. To Bohner it's not just about creating champions on the oval, but creating champions in life, those people that you aspire to be like, people like Ansley Gebben.

 

"It was a particular day her sophomore year and we have this girl who comes out for track part way through the season and is about 50 pounds overweight. She gets through the first week of practices and she is halfway done through the workout when everyone else is done. Second week she is starting to get  a little better, gets a little more than halfway through the workout when everyone is done. It was a hard work out too. Ansley goes and gets a drink of water and finishes the workout with this girl so she feels a part of the team. The next day she does the same thing and two more girls follow, then the next day more girls, again and again until the girl finishes the workout in the same time as everyone else. She is so humble and thinks of others before herself. That's what I'll remember most about Ansley because that inspires me too."