JCA Junior Goes The Distance

Capping off a busy summer, Joliet Catholic Academy’s Francesca Sikorski qualified for the AAU National Track and Field Meet in New Orleans.

Sikorski, who will be a junior at JCA, competed in the 800-meter run of the intermediate division (15-16 year olds) and finished 37^th at Tod Gormley Stadium with a time of 2:28.92.

Under the direction of coach Mark Clarke, the Angels’ cross country team has reached the sectional for three straight seasons. Sikorski has run on two of those teams, as well as qualifying for state in track in the 4x800 relay.

“It’s her versatility,” Clarke said of Sikorski. “She is blessed with speed, but she also has endurance ability, which is a pretty rare combination. She really trained hard and had a full summer.”

That included three days of weekly training with JCA, in conjunction with two days of weekly training with the Aurora Flyers, her club team.

“It takes a special person to be a quality runner in the 400 and be able to switch gears and go into the mile and three miles,” Clarke said. “Frankie is that type of rare breed.”