Franke Is All Business About Track and Field

Two years ago as a sophomore, Allison Franke of Canyon High School would wake up on the mornings of track and field competitions and immediately begin a psyche-up routine.

“I’d wake up, go to the mirror, look into my eyes and say to myself, “OK, let’s do it, let’s win, “ she said.

Franke, a senior who now “just lays around and watches TV before meets,” relates that story with a slightly embarrassed smile, as if she’s somewhat uncomfortable that at one time she did something a bit silly.

Silliness, you see, is not Franke’s style.

“I’ve never been the type to run around and giggle,” she said.

Perhaps that is part of the reason Franke, named girls’ track and field athlete of the year for the second consecutive year by The Times, has met with such success the past three years.

Her approach is a well-balanced blend of hard work and a genuinely calm acceptance of any outcome. Emotional maturity, it seems, is one of her greatest strengths.

This year, it led to her most consistent season yet.

In her specialty, the discus, Franke recorded a throw of 160 feet 6 inches, not only the county’s best this season, but the third-best mark in county history.

Franke also led the county in the long jump (18-5) and the 100-meter low hurdles (14.86 seconds) , and was second--after Mission Viejo’s Lisa Fager--in the triple jump (38-4 1/2).

Although the discus is what brought her the most attention--her mark of 160-6 ranks among the nation’s top 10--Franke’s success in the other events is remarkable considering she did not practice them more than one afternoon a week. At the Southern Section championships, Franke won titles in the 3-A triple jump and long jump.

No matter how she does though, Franke always seems to take winning--and not winning--in stride.

Although she failed this season to repeat her discus titles at the Southern Section and Masters meets, Franke accepted those defeats as she always has--with just a trace of disappointment and a more positive outlook for her next competition.

“It’s hard for me to get real excited about (success),” she said. “I mean, I’m happy about it, but I don’t see why some athletes have to get so high and mighty.”

Franke, who will attend Southern Methodist on a track scholarship in the fall, said there were a few ultimate goals she did not achieve this season--she wanted to long jump 19-0, throw the discus more than 170 feet and run the hurdles faster than 14.6--but she said she’s still very pleased with the way the year worked out.

“At our awards banquet, a lot of the other seniors were getting emotional and everything,” Franke said. “But I’m just looking forward to the future. I mean, I’m pleased the way my high school career’s gone, but I’m not sad that it’s over.”

Not that it’s over yet.

Franke, who placed seventh at the National Junior Championships last Saturday at Columbus, Ohio, will compete in the Keebler IPI meet, an international all-star meet for high school seniors this weekend at Chicago, and will participate in two week-long sessions at the U.S. Olympic Training Center at Colorado Springs this summer.

ALL-COUNTY GIRLS’ TRACK Based on best Southern Section meet results

Danetta Chaney Saddleback 100 meters 12.0h Shelly Tochluk Westminster 200 meters 25.41 Shelly Tochluk Westminster 400 meters 55.77 Shelley Taylor Edison 800 meters 2:13.10 Shelley Taylor Edison 1,600 meters 4:58.77 Tanja Brix University 3,200 meters 10:54.64 Allison Franke Canyon 100 High Hurdles 14.86 Monika Fischer El Toro 300 I. Hurdles 44.21 Lori Svoboda El Dorado High Jump 5-10 3/4 Lisa Fager Mission Viejo Triple Jump 39-11 1/2 Allison Franke Canyon Long Jump 18-5 Leslee Briggs Edison Shotput 41-1 1/2 Allison Franke Canyon Discus 160-6

h--hand-timed.