MADISON TOWNSHIP — Frank Douglas doesn’t look like a typical hurdler, but there is nothing typical about Madison’s junior sensation.
The Richland Source Athlete of the Week, Douglas had a big weekend at one of the state’s biggest meets. He finished second in the 300 meter hurdles and third in the 110 meter hurdles at the 82nd Mehock Relays at Malabar Middle School.
Douglas and Lakewood St. Edward’s Steele Wasik had perhaps the best duel of the day in the 300 hurdles. The 6-foot-4 Wasik out-leaned the 5-foot-8 Douglas at the tape to win in 38.69 seconds. Douglas was runner-up in 38.80.
The UCLA-bound Wasik, one of the top junior decathletes in the country, has the prototypical hurdler’s build. He is tall and wiry, not unlike American hurdling greats Edwin Moses (6-foot-2) and Kevin Young (6-foot-4), the world record holder in the 400 hurdles.
The powerfully-built Douglas is more compact, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in drive.
“We hear it all the time. Frank doesn’t look like the prototypical hurdler,” Madison track coach Andrew Saris said. “He might not be 6-2 or 6-3, but he compensates for the difference in size with his work ethic. He works harder than just about everyone.”
In the 110 hurdles, Douglas finished in 14.67 seconds. Wasik (14.19) won the event and Cleveland Glenville’s Davon Anderson (14.66) was runner-up.
“I just want to show what I can do as a 5-8 hurdler,” Douglas said Saturday.
He has precious little left to prove. Douglas swept the hurdle events at last year’s Ohio Cardinal Conference meet, setting the table for a memorable postseason run. He finished fourth in the 300 hurdles at the state meet in Columbus last June, crossing the finish line in 38.47 seconds. Wasik was second in 36.91. He finished fourth in the 60 meter high hurdles at the indoor state meet this year in 8.07 seconds.
Douglas didn’t make it out of the district tournament in the 110 hurdles last year, finishing sixth in the finals after posting the top time in the preliminaries. He would like to make the trip to Columbus in both disciplines this year.
“I’m trying to focus on both of them evenly,” Douglas said. “Last year when I went to state for the 300, I saw what the competition was and I saw how fun it was running the hurdles at state. I want to go in both.”
What made Saturday’s performance even more impressive — Douglas accounted for all 14 of Madison’s points as the Rams finished 14th in the team race — was the fact that most of his practice time has been indoors. Madison can’t use its home track as new synthetic surface is being installed at the football stadium. The Rams practice at Mehock Field a couple times a week.
“I’ve been running in hallways and on gym floors, so I really haven’t got to work the hurdles yet,” Douglas said. “Senior High is letting us use their facility on Tuesdays and Thursdays so the times I’m out here I’m going to push myself harder.”
If Douglas is pushing some of the top hurdlers in the state without much prep work on the track, what will he be capable of when he can train on a track?
“I’m wondering just like you,” he said. “When we get a track, it will benefit me with the distance I have to run. You can’t do it in the hallways.
“It’s going to bring good things.”
Saris agreed.
“We haven’t had a lot of opportunity to be outside on the track,” Saris said. “The thing about Frank is he has a great rhythm with the hurdles. I think we are only beginning to see what he is capable of.
“I’m confident that he can match up with just about anybody.”
Douglas was just glad to perform well in front of his home town Saturday. The Mehock Relays were held at Ashland University the past three years as Mehock Field received a much-needed facelift.
“It was a good day,” Douglas said. “We had nice weather and it was on the track that I grew up on.
“I’m just looking forward to next year when I’m a senior. I want to come back and do it all over again.”
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
