By Ken Hansard
Reece Franklin, a sophomore at Frontenac High, is quickly establishing herself as one of the most versatile track and field athletes in the CNC League. Franklin competes in multiple events including the high jump, triple jump, long jump, 300-meter hurdles, and the 4×4 relay. With a strong work ethic and a passion for the sport, she is entering the season focused on improvement and building on an already impressive start to her high school career.
Franklin, who maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA while balancing volleyball, basketball, and indoor and outdoor track, credits her love for track to her early experiences in junior high. “My love for track came from junior high and my dad,” Franklin said. “I started track in seventh grade, and that’s when I knew it was my favorite sport.”
During her freshman season, Franklin made a significant impact in the CNC. She captured first place in both the high jump and triple jump at the league meet while also finishing in the top three in the 300-meter hurdles. Her personal records include a high jump of 5 feet, 8 inches and a triple jump of 37 feet, 0.5 inches. The triple jump mark was especially meaningful to her after steadily improving throughout the season. “I was really proud of that. I had been jumping around 36 feet, so it felt great to finally hit 37.”
Franklin also demonstrated consistency in the high jump, winning every meet she competed in except her first appearance at Pittsburg State, where she placed second. Her success has given her confidence heading into this season. “My goal is to PR in each event this season. I’m super excited to see what this year brings.”
In addition to competing, Franklin understands her growing leadership role for the Raiders’ team. “With one year of high school track behind me, it’s my responsibility to mentor my teammates and help earn points for our team,” she said.
Looking ahead, Franklin is particularly excited about competing in the Pittsburg State Relays and Kansas City Relays. Ultimately, her goals are ambitious: to win state titles in the high jump and triple jump and continue improving each week. In the future, she hopes to compete in track at the collegiate level while pursuing a career as an orthodontist.
