Panther track and field is gearing up for their biggest meet of the year.
After winning the WNC Championships in Polk County Jan. 29, the Panthers set their sights on the 3A state title meet Feb. 10. As the reigning Men’s Indoor State Champions and women’s state runners-up, the team will travel to Winston-Salem this week with a statewide target on their backs.
“Last year we were coming out of nowhere. The year before that, we scored one point,” said senior pole vaulter Aaron Jennings. “Last year, no one expected us or planned for us to score points. ... This year, they’re kind of expecting us to do what we did last year, so it’s not as much of a surprise attack. But, we’ve peaked at the right time, so hopefully this year we’ll have a chance.”
Having scarcely been mentioned among the 3A pre-meet favorites last year, the Panther men took the track world by storm, stunning 3A powerhouses Croatan and North Lincoln to claim their first-ever indoor title. After finishing a single point shy of State Champions Dudley, Franklin’s women also face a tough road.
“It definitely looks more competitive this year than it was last year,” said reigning Indoor State Champion Boston Stringer of her pole vault opponents. “Last year it was pretty close because the top three all finished at the same height, and it came down to the scratches. It’s even more competitive this year. ... I don’t know about revenge, but I’d like to not lose by one point.”
After winning an indoor state title and placing third at the outdoor meet, Stringer has not escaped notice from opposing coaches this year. But while Franklin certainly won’t be sneaking up on anyone this weekend, a promising group of newcomers have stepped in to bolster their chances.
“I’ve done volleyball all four years, and both of my parents did track in high school,” said senior Talley Kinsland, who just joined the team this year. “My dad went to college for it actually, and so they were always kind of in my ear about it, but they never really pressured me to do it. After I finished volleyball, I was like, ‘You know what? I think I’m gonna try it.’”
While some seniors join teams and clubs just for fun or to pad their college applications, Kinsland has been anything but an also-ran this year. Armed with natural jumping skills from her years of volleyball, the senior has qualified for state in both the high jump and the hurdles, and has a real chance to score much-needed points in Winston-Salem. But for some of the team’s more veteran members, the state meet is just business as usual.
“I’ve not put too much thought into it; I’ve just got to be there and be ready to do what I know how to do,” said senior distance runner Logan Russo. “I’ve got to be prepared for probably four events that I’m gonna do. I did that last year, and I should be able to be faster now. I’m gonna be competing to win the [1,000-meter run] I’m pretty sure, and be at least like top-three in the mile.”
Along with senior classmate Barrett Stork, Russo has been a top distance runner throughout his Panther career, holding No. 1 3A rankings in the 1,000-meter and one-mile runs this season. While Russo is a serious contender to bring home gold this weekend, no Panther has been more impressive so far than senior Elijah Cochran.
“I can only do four [events], but I’m qualified for the 55-meter dash, 55 hurdles, long jump, high jump, [500-meter dash] and [300-meter dash], not including relays,” said Cochran, struggling to remember the full list.
“When I was younger as a freshman and stuff, I definitely did not expect any of this. My one and only goal was just to make it to state, and more recently, especially after last season because I was held back with injuries, I just knew that if I could get healthy that I would excel. I put in a lot of work with Matt over the summer in weight-lifting and obviously out here on the track, and Matt helped me see the vision of what I could be at my max potential,” he said of men’s head coach Matt Harlfinger.
After being hampered by injuries last year, Cochran has been one of the best athletes in 3A, spearheading Franklin’s state title chances this week. As the four events he’ll actually compete in remain a mystery to throw off opposing coaches, the senior enters the weekend as Franklin’s valuable secret weapon.
While Franklin will no longer benefit from the element of suprise this year, they do still boast one of 3A’s deepest and most talented programs. With 26 state qualifications from the women and 23 from the men, the Panthers will have one of the meet’s largest delegations this weekend, thanks in part to a deliberate effort by coaches to place athletes in every event. With a first-rate staff assembled by Harlfinger and women’s head coach Melissa Ward (including Rob Tompa, Joel Lynch, Ryan Danehy, Jeff Howard and LesLeigh Tabor), Franklin has maximized the talent of even inexperienced athletes.
“It was kind of a surprise, because this is my first year and I wasn’t expecting it,” said sophomore Isabella Shope, who just qualified in the high jump at a last-chance meet last week. “Matt had talked to me about doing high jump for track last year, and I decided to do it this year. ... I was not expecting [to qualify] at all.”