SOUTH BEND — To say Washington's Avante Newsome-Gunn does it all is truly an understatement. Yes, the junior runs and jumps for the track team, but she's also a mother. After missing some school to deliver the child, Newsome-Gunn has returned with a flourish.

"I love track, I still have my dream of being chosen for the 2012 Olympics. I bet my mom that I could get my stomach back in time for the season and see if I still have it," Newsome told WSBT Sports.

The long-jumper and sprinter has it alright. Newsome-Gunn qualified for 3 State Finals events at the recent Track Regionals. But it all comes back to being a mom, and how that changed things. Avante credits her own mom for guiding her through the challenging time of young motherhood.

"It's easy on my part because of my mom. My whole pregnancy, I thought I'd be done with school. But my mom helped with the baby, and I had to have my grades on point. It came up working, and it came out great," said Newsome-Gunn.

"I'm just so proud. The responsibility she has, and she has given it her all. Just because she has a baby, that's another hurdle that can only make you a better person," said Avante's mom, Neshai.

A B-student, Newsome-Gunn wants to go to college and eventually become a physical therapist or work in sports medicine. She'll always be a mother, and for that, she'll always be grateful of how things worked out.

"Once she starts walking, I was like oh my gosh! But things happen for a reason. Once she came in the world, and I got to be back in sports, I'm so thankful for that," said Newsome-Gunn.

"Just because you're a single mother doesn't mean you have to stop. If you better yourself, then you can better your child," said Neshai Newsome.

Congratulations to Avante Newsome-Gunn, this week's Burger King Outstanding Student Athlete!