University beckons for Fran

Fran Ashworth is the first of 5 athletes from the Middle Distance Squad leaving for University in September when she departs for Kings Collage in London on 12th September to study politics. Fran is one of the longest serving of Coach Shane Smith’s first full middle distance squad & joined KTH in September 2009 aged 12 and she quickly established herself as a top quality 800m athlete.

Fran has been the women’s Number 1 800m club runner for 6 consecutive seasons (2010-2015) and she has been one of a few from the squad to have represented Northants Schools at English schools Track & Field as a bottom year Junior at 800m.
Fran has been ever present at training and has enjoyed considerable success while competing for KTH all year round on Track/ Cross Country & Road winning medals at County, Regional & National level.

Career highlights so far include: Anchor leg for the U20 Women’s 4x400m English National Champions & Club record holder, 2015, Midland County Champions U20 Women XC 2015, Midland county medallist for 800m 2015 (B), 2011 (S), & NAA County & County schools champion at 800m & Cross country to name a few.

We wish Fran the very best of luck with her studies in a new and exciting chapter of her life, she plans to remain a first claim member of KTH, while training with a London based club (Woodford Green AC & Essex Ladies) while at University and her Coach Shane Smith has ensured she has met the head coach at her new club and has helped to set a joint training plan to help ensure she maintains her progress over the next few years. Fran will still be training and competing for KTH when at home for weekend & during her holidays but as an ever present member of every training session she will be missed by all of the squad and her coach.

Fran has been a model athlete over the past 6 years training in all weather, up to 6 times per week, including a weights session and despite this commitment she has obtained A & A* grades both at GCSE & A level to ensure she has every opportunity to follow her career aspirations as a journalist…. Perhaps an athletics or sports writer? She remains a role model for anyone who wants to achieve in life, which is always about hard work and commitment.

Fran before she departed attended a traditional send off with some of her colleagues at the Trading Post & signed the Red Stripe in the KTH clubhouse to commemorate her considerable achievements so far at KTH, and we certainly hope she continues to add to this over the coming years?

We wish Fran the best of Luck in London, take care.

Fran with some of the squad and her Coach with a "Trading Post" send off!