Franks Focuses on Raising the Bar After Shortened Freshman Campaign
5/18/2020 11:31:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Transitioning to college is difficult for most incoming students. For many, it is the first time being away from their family and living on their own. For student-athletes, this transition also comes with the increased demands of collegiate athletics compared to high school, making the first semester difficult for those adjusting to their new schedule.
Enter Lillie Franks. The freshman only enrolled at Kent State in January. As a track and field athlete, this meant she lost an entire semester of preparation for the indoor season, which began with a meet in December. Not only did she lose that semester for athletic preparation, the United Kingdom native also had to adjust to college life in a new country.
"Being away from home was a challenge I had never faced before, but it really did get easier as time went on, especially being in the environment that I was in at Kent," said Franks on adjusting to life at Kent State. "The support system with the faculty, people and all staff is really different to what I've ever experienced before. They care about your wellbeing and your success."
For some student-athletes, losing months of preparation and having to adjust to a new culture means they may take the first few months to get adjusted and up to speed. Franks, however, took a different view of her situation.
"I was just thrown into the deep end with competing and practice, but I enjoyed getting straight to the exciting part of high jump, competing!"
That determination to be successful from the beginning of her season resulted in a high jump win at her first meet in a dual against rival Akron.
Things only trended in the right direction for Franks. She set a new personal-best at the Akron Invitational and again at the Kent State Tune Up. What happened next even surprised Franks.
"One of my biggest achievements at Kent so far would definitely be to place second at the MAC Championships. I also won Freshman of the Year! I really didn't expect it, so I was really happy with that!" remarked Franks.
Ranked fourth on the Mid-American Conference's performance list entering the competition, she was able to take home the silver medal by matching her season-best height of 5'-7" from the previous week. At the conclusion of the meet, the conference's 12 head coaches voted Franks as the MAC Freshman Field Performer of the Year.
Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Bill Lawson noted her willingness to adapt and work with assistant coach Joe Yoder as crucial to her success throughout the indoor season and at the MAC Championships.
"Whatever Coach Yoder was doing with her, she embraced it. I know they made a few changes in technique, and I think her extreme positivity and her belief that she could do well allowed her to have a really good indoor season in a very short amount of time," said Lawson of Franks. "In her very first go-around at the MAC Championships, she could have just as easily won it as gotten second."
Franks was poised to build on the momentum from the indoor season. Then on March 12th, a little over two weeks before the team was set to open its 2020 outdoor season in Raleigh, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the MAC and the NCAA to cancel all remaining sporting events for the remainder of the academic year.
"I know Lillie was disappointed and we were disappointed for her," said Lawson. "She said, 'Coach, I'll see you when I see you' and she's positive. The main thing was communicating with her dad to make sure she made it home safe."
Franks returned home to the United Kingdom and, like many student-athletes, has had to adapt to this new normal, completing her schoolwork remotely and doing her best to stay conditioned for when she is able to return to competition. While admitting that staying motivated is tough, she has found ways to stay focused on the bigger picture, both in terms of the situation the world is facing and the situation she faces as an athlete.
"Don't get me wrong sometimes I just don't want to do exercise, but then I think of the bigger picture", Franks stated. "Being stuck in lockdown, I think everyone can agree on this, makes you think and realize a lot about life and yourself. So for this I'm grateful I can self-reflect and better myself."
For now, Franks has to deal with the disappointment of losing part of her first year of competition. But her drive to improve and having her first year cut short have made her ready for when she is able to compete as a Golden Flash again. When teams return, Franks will have the same amount of preparation and training time as her competitors this time around, and that is something that should put the rest of the conference on notice.
"When I got told that I had to travel back to the UK two months into my first semester, it was disappointing, obviously. I think everyone felt sad about the season and semester ending so quickly!" said Franks about the abrupt end to her first year of competition. "But it's made me even more excited for next season for sure!"
Players Mentioned
