From hill runs to “All-American”, Freshman hurdler Bradley Franklin is dominating his season on the Samford Track team.
Around fifth or sixth grade, Franklin was out with his dad and brother running up the hill at their local boat ramp in Demopolis, Ala. This would be the very beginning of his track career, and he didn’t even know it.
“He taught us the absolute basics of running, like the mechanics and knowing how to move your arms and legs the right way,” Franklin said.
Seventh grade hit and it was Franklin’s father that urged him to join the track team. This is where Franklin started out with the 400-meter and long-jump events.
“I wasn’t super great at them and I wasn’t enthusiastic about it at the time,” Franklin said.
This all changed when Franklin began his eighth-grade year and was introduced to hurdles for the first time.
“I actually started to enjoy track,” Franklin said. “I was around people who genuinely cared about it, I enjoyed talking to them and as the season progressed, I started to enjoy it more and more.”
The team would practice at Thompson High School to use their facilities. While at practice one day, the coach of the High School team noticed Franklin and his athletic build and suggested he try hurdles.
Franklin began training in the 110 and 300 hurdles where he said he performed relatively well for his first time. High school, however, is where he really developed.
“I had to be moved from junior varsity to varsity very quickly because I was winning nearly every race so they moved me so I could be challenged and grow as an athlete,” Franklin said.
Throughout his first two years of high school, Franklin continued to grow and dominate in his track seasons. He credits his success to the coaches, his faith, his parents and teammates he had to cheer him on.
“His interest and enthusiasm is infectious and he is not afraid to share his passions with the world,” said teammate Owen Anderson.
However, he notes a specific coach that was especially vital to his development as an athlete.
“My hurdle-specific coach throughout all of high school, Lacey Marcus, she was incredibly supportive and encouraging,” Franklin said. “Even when she was pregnant with her child she spent so much time helping me grow and develop, I couldn’t have asked for a better hurdle coach at the time.”
In his junior year, Franklin saw huge results. He ran a sub 14 in the 110 hurdles and decided this is what he wanted to pursue in college.
“After that, I was like ok, I’m going to run hurdles in college,” Franklin said. “I want to run well enough to get a scholarship and I want to continue doing this.”
Franklin committed to Samford in the fall of his senior year of high school and began his journey as a Bulldog. Anderson speaks to Franklin’s character as both a teammate, friend and fellow freshman.
“Bradley is more than an exceptional teammate on the track and he’s a friend to everyone,” Anderson said.
Starting his freshman season, Franklin has just been named All-American after the NCAA Indoor Championships.
“It’s a really really really great feeling because from what I’ve observed, that transition in their freshman year from 39 to 42 inch hurdles sometimes completely knocks them off,” Franklin said.
Franklin has been able to PR running a 7.6.
“It feels amazing, and making it to the NCAA’s as a freshman is a rare accomplishment. I want to stay humble but I’m very proud of myself for what I’ve done and I’m excited to see what I’m going to do in our outdoor season,” Franklin said.
To guide him through the season, Franklin has created a phrase that grounds him and keeps him on track; win, lose, learn.
“I win because of the abilities I have, I lose because there are people who have put more work in or know more about a race or event or just track in general and I learn from those experiences of loss and learning and apply it to my own strategies,” Franklin said.
Franklin hopes to continue to compete at the Olympic level and even has his eye set on a world record for the 110 and 60 hurdles.
Keep up with him on the track or check out his podcast with Anderson on Spotify called “After Practice.”
Sports Editor
