(Enlarge) The first Towson Times Athlete of the Year from Loch Raven High in 20 years, senior Kathryn Franke proved she could run with elite distance runners in indoor and outdoor track after being a valuable midfielder for the state semifinalist field hockey team. (Staff photo by Matt Roth)

Loch Raven three-sport standout Kathryn Franke never let academics take a back seat to athletics.

Track coach Adam Hittner recalls a conversation he had with Franke at the end of her junior year.

The May graduate was planning for her final year of high school when "she said she was going to take six advance placement classes and one was a double period," Hittner said. "I was like 'Are you sure? You don't want to throw in a team sport or weight training or a student aid period to relax?' "

Franke's answer was a resounding no.

"I wanted to take the harder class so I could challenge myself," Franke said. "I was up late a lot."

While the 18-year-old may have been weary, Franke still didn't miss a day of school in 12 years, graduated with 4.0 grade-point average and was class salutatorian.

"If you look at her academics side, you are like 'Wow, what a great kid!' " Loch Raven athletic director Dave Hoch said. "When you throw in her athletic accomplishments, that's almost unheard of."

The 2009 Towson Times Athlete of the Year, is gifted athletically, starting for the Raiders field hockey team and posting top finishes in the county, region and state track championship meets as a senior.

She co-captained the indoor and outdoor track teams this year and intends to continue running at Mount St. Mary's University in the fall. She will major in fine arts and communications.

Franke is coming off a solid spring season for Loch Raven, finishing fifth in the 1,600 meters and seventh in the 800 in the state championships while anchoring the third-place 3,200 relay team.

The four-year varsity team member, also won a regional title in the 1,600 and took second in the 800 and 1,600 in the county.

"Her endurance is tremendous," Hittner said. "She didn't get tired."

All the top finishes didn't mean as much to Franke as the nine individual and relay Loch Raven school records she set.

She set the 3,200 record indoor this winter and broke her own outdoor record in the 1,600 this spring.

"I am part of nine school records so that is my favorite part of (track)," Franke said. "I liked to set goals. I was pushing myself to get those faster times."

She also made an impact during indoor track last winter in postseason meets. She anchored the Class 2A winning 3,200 relay in the state championships that also included Emma Davis, Margaret Glassman and Erin Williams.

The Raiders won the race by an impressive nine seconds and the same 3,200 group placed second in the county and region.

"You usually don't win a state race by that significant of a margin," Hittner said. "As far as I was concerned, as soon as Kathryn touched the baton, the race was over."

Franke ran a leg on another 3,200 state champion indoor relay team -- as a sophomore.

She has, however, received more attention for her performances in individual events.

This winter, Franke placed second in the county and region in the 1,600 and 800. She was also fourth in the state in the 1,600.

"She worked very hard and never really got down on herself," Hittner said. "She was always positive and looking toward the next race. She understood what she needed to do. I think that was huge."

Franke was named the unsung hero of a Loch Raven field hockey team that went 12-3 and advanced to a state semifinal for the first time in 13 years.

She started for two seasons at midfield and played another two seasons on the junior varsity.

"We wouldn't have been as good without her," Loch Raven first-year varsity coach Elizabeth Miller said. "She just made us a powerful team when she was on the field. She just worked so hard."

Franke's outstanding quickness and strong stick skills helped her become an integral part of Loch Raven's transition game.

"She was really good at getting the ball up the field to the attack and helping them score goals," Miller said.

Miller also valued Franke for intangible assets.

"She was a natural leader that helped a lot of the younger players," the coach said. "My juniors and underclassmen really looked up to her."

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