Photo by Sam Chandler
Frances Patrick signs with TCU
Mountain Brook High School senior distance runner Frances Patrick signed with Texas Christian University on Wednesday, April 20, 2016.
Mountain Brook High School senior distance runner Frances Patrick cemented her college commitment on Wednesday, April 20.
Before a gathering of family, friends and coaches inside Spartan Arena, the four-time individual state champion signed her National Letter of Intent to run cross-country and track at Texas Christian University.
“It feels awesome. I couldn’t be happier,” Patrick said.
A highly prized recruit, Patrick narrowed her extended list of NCAA Division I suitors down to Ole Miss, Auburn, Tennessee and TCU. When the time came to commit, she said her 24-hour visit to the Horned Frogs’ Fort Worth, Texas, campus proved to be the deciding factor.
“It was the shortest visit I took, but it didn’t take long to know that it was my dream school,” Patrick said. “I just felt at home.”
Patrick has played a key role in the Spartans’ distance lineup throughout her time at MBHS.
On the cross-country course, she helped the girls’ team clinch its 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th-consecutive state championships, earning All-State honors each of her four years. In the fall, Patrick capped her prep cross-country career with the Class 7A individual title, rolling to a decisive 18-second victory in a personal-best 18 minutes, 18.78 seconds.
On the oval, she’s achieved an equal level of success.
Bursting to the forefront of the state scene as a junior, Patrick captured her first championship at the 2015 state outdoor track and field meet. On her way to a gold-medal finish in the 3,200 meters, she plowed through the elite 11-minute barrier and crossed the line in 10:56.28. She carried that momentum into the 2016 state indoor track and field championships, where she pulled off the distance double with triumphs in both the 1,600 and 3,200.
Mountain Brook head cross-country and track and field coach Michael McGovern said Patrick has left a nearly immeasurable impact on the tradition-rich Spartan program.
“She's been our top upperclassman for the past two years, and she’s held together our team for the past two years,” McGovern said. “She’s going to be hard to replace.”
Patrick will have the chance to add to her athletic legacy at the upcoming 7A state outdoor track and field meet. Scheduled for May 5-7 in Gulf Shores, Patrick will contend for state championships in the 800, 1600 and 3,200.
Even amid her individual accomplishments, Patrick said the highlight of her prep career has been the relationships she’s formed with teammates and coaches.
“I’m definitely going to miss it,” Patrick said. “That’s kind of why I wanted to further my running career, just because I love being a part of the team so much.”
