by Colin Harris
Record-Courier Reporter
Mantua -- While most college students spend their summers catching up on long overdue sleep, former Crestwood track standout Bridget Franek took the rare opportunity to compete on her sport's main stage: the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Franek, who is familiar to many Aurorans who followed area high school track and field during her Crestwood career, failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a semifinal time of 10:11.56, but the Penn State sophomore said she wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
"I definitely would have liked to have run faster than I did, but I wouldn't trade the time for anything," Franek said. "I've already had a great year, and this experience will hopefully be a stepping stone for me."
Successful could hardly describe the first two years of Franek's career at Penn State, as she wasted little time establishing herself as one of the premier distance athletes in the country.
After a prep career at Crestwood that ended in 2006 with a team state championship and four state championships -- 4x800 relay, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs -- Franek set Penn State records in the 3,000 steeplechase, 4x1,500 relay and the distance medley relay on her way to earning Big Ten freshman of the year honors in 2007.
Then in 2008, there was no "sophomore slump" for Franek.
She carried another strong regular-season performance into the Big Ten Championships, where her first-place time of 9:58.56 in the 3,000 steeplechase blew away the competition and helped the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten team championship.
Franek then dominated the regional stage with a first-place time of 10:01.56 in the 3,000 steeplechase at the NCAA East Regional Championships before helping her team to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
FRANEK SAID her experience this year at the collegiate level played a big role in helping her prepare for the Olympic Trials.
"We had a core group of seniors on the team this year that really led us all year," Franek said. "It was such an honor to be on this team. We accomplished so many great things together.
"I've already learned a lot from my coaches at Penn State, including head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan," Franek said. "It's been great to have people around me with the same goals I have.
"I'm still learning how to take advantage of all the things this level of collegiate track offers us -- from coaching to trainers, but I think it's helped me grow as an athlete."
While some time away from the sport would certainly be treasured, Franek says she has one more target in her sights as the NACAC Under 23 Track and Field Championships provides her first chance to represent the United States on an international stage.
Conducted July 18-20 in Toluca, Mexico, the bi-annual event brings together some of the finest young athletes from Canada, Central America and the Caribbean, something Franek said she is excited to be a part of.
"I was originally a first alternate, but one of the qualifiers is going to the Olympics, which opened up a spot for me," she said.
"I'm excited to be able to represent the United States in this event, and it will be a great opportunity."
Franek has now traveled from Mantua's Jack Lambert Stadium, to Columbus, to State College, to Oregon and Mexico to display her incredible, one of a kind running ability.
All the while, Franek has continued to build an impressive resume, and aside from her upcoming seasons at Penn State, the next big item that may be added to her list is an appearance in London for the 2010 Olympics.
E-mail: charris@recordpub.com
Telephone: 330-296-9657