Bensalem senior Kyle Francis was recognized for signing a letter of intent to compete in track at Duke University.
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Kyle Francis – Duke University (Track)
Major: History
Final list of colleges: Duke, Georgetown
Reasons for choosing Duke: “The number one reason is the weather – no snow, no cold, just beautiful weather all year round. Also, Duke is considered an ‘Ivy league of the South,’ so the academic reputation was a big selling point. The track and field program had two relay teams finish in the top 10, so it’s great to know that Coach Norm Ogilvie likes to focus on relays, one of the best aspects of track. Lastly, they will have a brand new track and field stadium and locker rooms come August, showing that the success of the track team is high on the university’s list of priorities.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in track at the collegiate level? “The first time I even ran track was spring of eighth grade. Before that, I always played basketball and baseball. I knew I had potential in track when I was in ninth and 10th grades but didn’t know anything about the recruiting process, but when my junior year came around, I filled out questionnaires and e-mailed many coaches and just waited for answers. I’m glad I was proactive and didn’t sit back and wait for coaches to come to me. Duke showed the most interest throughout the process, and I realized they were just as serious as I was, making the decision very easy.”
Coach Mary Ellen Malloy says: “Kyle is so coachable. In this day and age, sometimes you can’t challenge a kid. I can put a challenge out there, and he just thrives on that, whether it’s in practice or at a meet. His work ethic is impeccable. “He has tenacity. He will just grab onto something and work at it and work at it until it’s the way he wants it to be. We can be talking about a distance run, a sprint workout, a class, an essay that has to be written – it doesn’t matter. He’ll keep at it until it’s done.
“Kyle started running for my club team the summer before his freshman year, and just to see him grow as a runner and person the past four years has been such a blessing. Between Brad last year and Kyle this year, I have been a very, very lucky coach. Great parents, great kid – if I had 10 Kyle Francises, I’d be a happy person.”
About Kyle:
Favorite food: Spaghetti
Favorite movie: Tommy Boy, Wreck it Ralph
Favorite music: The Wonder Years, DMX, Red Hot Chili Peppers
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