It was a busy week for Panther track and field.
In sending the bulk of their athletes to Montreat College and a few to the Adidas Indoor Nationals in Virginia Beach, Franklin’s coaches had plenty to keep track of this week. Versus elite competition from WNC and across the mid-Atlantic region, the team’s top-line talent turned in some eye-popping performances.
“Elijah Cochran finished second in the pentathlon in the Championship Division, which earned him an Adidas All-American honor,” said head coach Matt Harlfinger of the state’s reigning 3A Men’s Most Outstanding Performer. “He posted a top-15 mark in the United States.”
Throughout the indoor season, Cochran’s versatility made him the Panther men’s secret weapon, keeping opposing coaches in the dark as to which events he would actually compete in. In a five-in-one event consisting of the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put and 800-meter run, the senior put that versatility on display, establishing himself as one of the country’s best pentathletes. While Cochran’s was Franklin’s most impressive performance of the weekend, the award for most dramatic went to his distance-running teammates.
“The boys [4x800-meter relay] took first place in the National Elite Division, and it was a roller-coaster ride of emotions,” said Harlfinger. “We were in first place after the second leg, but not by a ton. By the third leg we were in fifth place ... and then Logan [Russo] gets the baton for our anchor leg, and Logan pulls us back into third and then makes a move to first. Somebody comes from the back of the pack and passes him with about 100 meters left, and it’s like, ‘Alright, just stay in there and get second.’ But then Logan finds another gear and ends up edging out the guy at the finish line. It was a really dramatic race.”
With an incredible anchor leg from Russo, he, Matheson Post, Cooper Tyler and Barrett Stork turned in one of the most exciting races in recent Franklin memory, placing first in the national meet’s second-highest division. In the Freshman Division, the Panthers’ distance running rising star also impressed.
“Morgan Cress ran a 5:42 in the freshman girls mile, and I want to say she maybe got 18th place,” said Harlfinger. “As a freshman, to put her with Audrey Pressley, Kamden Reis, Anna Timan and that whole group of freshman girls, Morgan all year long has been the cream of the crop, so to speak. She was almost All-State and finished one spot off the podium [at the 3A state meet], and was the second-highest finishing freshman in cross country. Then she goes to the indoor meet and scores in the two-mile and on the four-by-eight, so she’s just been having a fantastic year.”
Between Cochran, Cress, the men’s 4x800-meter team and pole vaulters Boston Stringer, Aaron Jennings, Adam Rogers and David Rogers, several top Panther athletes gained invaluable experience at the Indoor Nationals. Those who didn’t make the trek to Virginia Beach traveled to Montreat College March 14, where another freshman girl turned in a strong meet.
“There were some bright spots coming out of that one. Audrey Pressley long-jumped a 17’3”, which moves her into the number one spot in the 3A West,” said Harlfinger. “She’s number two in school history behind Laura [Covarrubias], and additionally, she’s the number five freshman long jumper in the United States right now. That can change – it’s pretty early in the season – but to be jumping that far this early ... is just crazy. She also came back and finished fourth in the 200 with the number 10 time in school history at 27.32.”
After wowing fans of Panther volleyball and basketball earlier this year, Pressley has continued an incredible freshman campaign, instantly becoming one of Panther track’s best sprinters and jumpers. Due in part to her efforts, Franklin likely boasts the best group of female jumpers in the state.
“She’s a half-inch ahead of Laura, so we’ve actually got the number one and number two, and five of the top eight long jumpers in the region,” said Harlfinger. “Addison Coker I think is maybe the third-best jumper in the region, and then Talley Kinsland comes in around fifth. Aubrey Haley had a really good day as well and she’s top-eight in the region, so we’re really deep in the long jump for whatever reason.”