JCD graduate wins Flying Pig Marathon
Cecil Franke breaks record
Mike Maune - Intern Writer

Cecil Franke, formerly of Napoleon, pounded Cincinnati pavement as he finished first in the Flying Pig Marathon on Sunday, May 7. Franke, 38, set the new record for the race at 2 hours and 20 minutes, defeating the past record that had stood since 1999. The Flying Pig Marathon website recorded nearly 15,000 participants in the various races and events, including 4,919 in the marathon with Franke.

Franke kept neck-in-neck with fellow runner Chris Reis. However, during mile 19 Franke pulled away and kept his lead until the finish. Franke told the website, "I was just trying to hang on. I hadn't planned on going that fast, but Chris pushed me faster than I wanted to go." Franke finished three minutes ahead of Reis.

A graduate of Jac-Cen-Del, Franke now lives in Dublin, Ind. and coaches cross-country at Centerville High School. Franke's mother related a story about training his cross-country runners. "He told us how he took the kids out for a run. They thought a bus would pick them up," laughed Mrs. Franke. "There was no bus - they had to run back."

David Bradshaw coached Franke in 1986, his senior year of high school. He set the school record for the 5000 meters at 14:52. He also won the State Championship for 3200 eters. Bradshaw said, "It doesn't surprise me [that he won], because he's a very determined person. He's a great credit to Jac-Cen-Del, himself, his family...and the community at large."

Franke completed the marathon, which covers 26.2 miles, with bigger goals ahead. Before the Flying Pig Marathon, Franke ran for Ball State University and completed a marathon in Columbus in 2005. After the Flying Pig, according to information on their website, Franke is aiming for another marathon - in the 2008 Summer Olympics. "We are proud of him - he's a good kid," Mrs. Franke concluded, "I believe he'll make the Olympics someday."