Head Coach Randy Dalzell announced the signing of 5-time Nevada 3A State Champion and Gatorade Nevada Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year Christian Franklin. Franklin, who is a 2020 graduate of Valley High School in Las Vegas, Nevada is a three time state track and field champion and a two time state cross country champion. Franklin is a junior college transfer from Central Arizona College and was also a National Junior College regional track champion in the 800m and placed 23rd at the NJCAA National Cross County Championships in 2021. His personal bests are 400m – 49.83, 800m – 1:51.20, 3000m – 8:38.62 and 8K cross country 24:46. Franklin only ran one season of college cross country and indoor track, so he has three seasons of cross country remaining, three seasons of indoor track remaining and two seasons of outdoor track remaining. He will be a sophomore business major at Texas Wesleyan.
Coach Dalzell's thoughts on the addition of Franklin to the men's program:
"Christian is a great addition to our men's cross country and track program! He was a stellar high school runner in Nevada, being a 5 time state champion and that was with missing his senior year of track competition because of COVID, so he could have been about an 8 time state champion if they had a state track meet his senior year. His junior year he won the state cross country meet, the state 800m, the state 1600m and the state 3200m races. He also won the state cross country meet his senior year in high school. He was named the Gatorade Boys Nevada State cross country athlete of the year his senior season as well. Christian was also very successful as a junior college athlete running 24:46 in men's 8K cross country in his only collegiate season and finished 23rd at the NJCAA nationals, plus ran 1:51 as a NJCAA regional 800m champion. He has great leg speed and good range to run well in both of those specialties. I'm very excited to add him to the great group of men's middle and long distance runners we have coming. I can see him really developing as one of the top NAIA runners in the nation."
