Augusta, Ga. - For Gabriel Best and Ansley Graddy Best, their story began at Whitewater High School in Gainsville, Ga. It's where the duo met while running cross country as sophomores. They fell in love, and this past summer got married. Childhood sweethearts that continued their romance throughout high school and now at Augusta University. 

For Ansley Best, she actually remembers the first time there was a spark.

"I was watching him race and thought he was pretty cool. I remember having that thought. And I was very much like, you know what, we're going to have to figure something out," said Ansley Best.

They both visited Augusta University together and she decided first to commit to the Jaguars. It was a no-brainer for him to follow suit and it was a win-win for all parties involved, including the Augusta cross country and track programs. 

Both are Hull College of Business students, so that also helped since AU offered what they were looking for. 

They knew they would eventually get married, but really weren't sure when the right time was. The initially thought it would be after college, but everything fell into place and this past summer became the right time. Ansley Best said Gabriel Best proposed exactly how she was hoping and expecting him to. While it was meant to be a surprise, that didn't happen. Gabriel Best's sister asked her to go get her nails done. She was able to figure out the plan from there. 

"Ansley actually made a Tik Tok video the night before saying 'I think I'm getting proposed to tomorrow' and she showed me it the next day," said Gabriel Best. 

Originally the wedding was going to be in May, but then Gabriel Best thought there could be a conflict, namely NCAA Nationals for track and field. So they picked a later date. It turned out to be a good idea since he made the NCAA's in the steeplechase and went to Kansas for the championships. 

"Just for the off chance I make it to nationals, we should push it off a little bit, and that ended up being a good thing," said Gabriel Best. 

Ansley Best was back home with Gabriel's grandmother following his qualifying race on-line, all the while trying to explain to her what his times meant. It was a stressful time to say the least.

"I remember sitting there and being like, he has to run a crazy last lap to do it, and he did it. It was really insane. I was jumping up and down in the kitchen," said Ansley Best. 

The transition to married life hasn't been difficult, even being student-athletes that require a lot of time. But Ansley Best admits he is the more disciplined of the two of them, which is a good thing.

"His discipline makes me more disciplined," said Ansley Best.

The couple has one more year left at Augusta and have some goals in mind. She would like to run some marathons while he will remain focused on the steeplechase for the time being. Both though, are enjoying the journey.

"I'm enjoying it, and having fun," said Gabriel Best. "I'm not going to have the chance to keep running with the team later in life so it's good to live it up while I can."