Frontenac freshman girls high jumper Reece Franklin and Pittsburg senior boys golfer M.J. Lowe have been named the Morning Sun athletes of the week for the week ending April 4.
REECE FRANKLIN
To say that Franklin started her high school track career in style April 4 at the 36th annual Jock's Nitch/PSU Gorilla Relays would be a major understatement.
She established Frontenac school records in the high jump at 5 feet, 5 inches and the triple jump at 34-10 1/2.
Kynlee Lakey held the previous high jump record at 5-0 and Meghan Winden the previous triple jump record at 33-3 1/4.
Franklin finished second in both her record-setting events and seventh in the long jump at 16-2 3/4.
“Reece Franklin is an outstanding, versatile freshman who has already made her mark in the record books,” Frontenac coach Caryn Murray said. “Her natural ability and intrinsic determination are a winning combination. In just three meets, she has been competitive in the high jump, triple jump, long jump, 300-meter hurdles, 200 meters, javelin and the 4x400 relay, a promising heptathlete in the making.
“We have been waiting for this multi-talented athlete to start her high school track and field career. She shines in everything she does, and we are fortunate to have her. Reece’s athleticism is no secret, at least not anymore. Reece wants to do everything and everything well. And she does. It is no surprise that she is wiping records off the board.
“Reece is a product of strong athletic programs and an athletic-minded family that has set her up for success. She has put in the time and training to start her high school career with some of the best performances in the state. She came out blazing in her high school opener by setting two school records and she was just shy of another. Reece has already accomplished what some can only strive for. There is a great story here, and it is just beginning.”
M.J. LOWE
Lowe and his Purple Dragon teammates started out their season March 31 with a major challenge.
"Having M.J. play in the Justin Siler Memorial Golf Tournament at Lawrence Country Club was a great experience for him and our team," Pittsburg coach Mary Packard said. "With 16 teams, mostly 6A level competition, it tested his abilities on a difficult course that he had not played before. His 6-over-par finish for 10th place was a great way to start off his senior season. The level of competition was high and exactly what he needs to push himself to continue to improve this season in preparation for the 5A regional and hopefully state competitions."
Lowe shot 38 on both nines to finish with a 76; he tied with Shawnee Mission Northwest's Jack Makkyla and finished one shot better than Manhattan's Charlie Haney, Summit Christian's Max Seitz, Lawrence's Andrew Kirkwood and Lawrence Free State's Henry Thompson.
COACHES CAN NOMINATE athletes of the week by emailing
[email protected] before noon Wednesday. Please attach a closeup head and shoulders shot of the athletes in the email. Awards on April 19 will be based on performances from April 7-12.
