Franklin College junior Nick Patton has run a best time of 15.98 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles this season.
Submitted photo | Chad Williams
Nick Patton and Janae Johnson have known each other since sixth grade, the infancy of their respective track and field careers.
Almost a decade later, similarities continue to outnumber differences.
Members of Greenwood’s class of 2019, the longtime friends are now juniors at Franklin College and members of the Grizzlies’ track teams.
In terms of athletic eligibility, Patton and Johnson are still sophomores. Their true freshman season advanced as far as a March 7 NCAA qualifier in Ada, Ohio, before the remaining meets were canceled due to the outbreak of the pandemic.
Both have since enjoyed the challenges associated with Division III track and field.
“I’ve had a blast doing (events),” said Patton, who specializes in the 110-meter hurdles but also runs the third leg of the 4×100 relay and competes in the 200. “The team has become really good over the past couple of years, and it’s been a big jump from high school.
“When you get to college, everyone is here for a reason. It definitely pushes me to be better.”
In March, Patton posted a career-best hurdles time of 15.98 seconds to win at the Rose-Hulman Early Bird Invitational in Terre Haute. His top 200 time (24.09) this season came at the same meet.
The sprint relay’s fastest effort this spring of 44.77 came at the team’s Grizzly Invitational earlier this month.
While in high school, Patton trained his body to repeatedly make it over 39-inch hurdles on his way to the finish line in the 110s. He had to adjust to 42-inch hurdles once in college.
“It’s a big jump,” Patton said. “It’s a little bit psychological, but it’s about muscular endurance too. By that 10th hurdle, my hips are pretty tired. And in college, the workouts are a lot more intense — and a lot more frequent.”
No need reminding Johnson.
She knows.
The junior participates in the 100 and 400 hurdles and the long jump, and she occasionally lowers herself into the blocks for the the 200.
Johnson’s best 100 hurdles performance this season was a 16.91-second run to place second at Rose-Hulman. She has long jumped 4.57 meters (15 feet).
Like Patton, Johnson prefers the shorter hurdles race.
“It’s the 100 hurdles, by far. I feel the shorter sprints are more my specialty,” Johnson said. “I feel I have a lot more power in the shorter events. Typically, with the 400 hurdles, you have to deal with more wind because you hit all sides of the track.
“I usually hit a wall at 250 or 300 meters because in high school you run only 300.”
On April 29-30, the Grizzlies get a better feel for how they’re progressing this outdoor season when they compete in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference outdoor championships at Hanover.
The objective is get as many athletes as possible qualified for the NCAA Division III championships in Geneva, Ohio in late May. Franklin College track and field coach Demetrius Bailey believes Patton and Johnson have an opportunity to make it.
Every bit as valuable as any times clocked or distances jumped is the example the Greenwood alums set in practices and meets.
“Those two bring that leadership that we’ve been missing in that group,” Bailey said. “Nick is more by example, and Janae is more vocal. As long as we have that leadership, it’s beneficial.”
