DATE: Sunday, October 26, 1997              TAG: 9710240271

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 18   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   61 lines

DUO'S COMPETITIVE DAYS WINDING DOWN LAKELAND STALWARTS ANDY FRANKLIN AND JANET CHAPMAN'S LAST RUNS MAY BE AT THURSDAY'S EASTERN REGION MEET.

AT SOME POINT or another, all athletic careers come to an end and those days are winding down for Andy Franklin and Janet Chapman of Lakeland.

At last week's Southeastern District cross country meet, the two seniors both qualified for Thursday's Eastern Region meet at Newport News Park in what may be their last year of competitive running.

``They've been my top two runners the last couple of years,'' Cavalier coach David Wessel said. ``They have always done what I have asked them to. They've been my nucleus.''

Chapman finished seventh (21:13) in the district meet - tops among female runners from Suffolk.

``I felt that I did pretty good,'' Chapman said. ``This was probably my best race this season.''

Chapman was a three-time all-district runner going into this season and placed fourth in the Group AA Region I Meet two years ago.

Franklin, who finished fourth in the district meet, has had an up-and-down career at Lakeland.

From the start, Franklin has been an all-district runner.

During his sophomore year, he elevated his times and qualified for the Group AA state meet.

Last year, the team's first in Group AAA, Franklin took a step back. Not because of the competition but because of a leg injury.

Franklin injured his fibula before the season and competed hurt throughout the season.

``He still hasn't run the times he ran as a freshman and sophomore,'' Wessel said.

Yet, he still managed to earn all-district honors last season and was among the top runners in the Southeastern this season.

Franklin was ranked in The Virginian-Pilot's Top 10 most of the fall and was considered one of the favorites at the district meet at Chesapeake City Park.

Franklin ran with the pack most of the race and then took a very slight lead the final 10th of a mile.

However, the three-time all district athlete was so caught up into running he made a wrong turn toward the finish line.

Franklin quickly realized his mistake but the misjudgment led to a fourth-place finish behind winner and teammate Keith Arthur, another senior.

``I hurt for him,'' Wessel said.

But with Lakeland losing Chapman, Franklin and Arthur to graduation, the athletes might be the ones feeling hurt for the coach next season. ILLUSTRATION: File photo

Janet Chapman finished seventh (21:13) in last week's Southeastern

District cross country meet - tops among female runners from

Suffolk.

File photo by L. TODD SPENCER

Andy Franklin, ranked among the top runners in the Southeastern

District this season, finished fourth at last week's district cross

country meet.

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