Each week, the Wesleyan Sports Information staff will sit down with a different featured athlete for a question and answer session.

This week's featured athlete is men's cross country runner Barry Franklin. Franklin, a sophomore from Medford, New York helped lead the Wesleyan cross country and track teams to WVIAC championships last year in his first year on the squad.

As a freshman, Franklin finished fourth in the conference cross country meet. He carried that success over to the track in the spring where he scored at conference in the steeple, the 5,000 meter run and the 1,500 meter run.

Another accomplishment to add to his young but growing resume is the school record in the steeplechase. Franklin shattered Wesleyan Hall of Famer Eric Chandler's mark with a time of 9:39.00.

The Wesleyan men's and women's cross country teams are currently gearing up for the WVIAC championship meet on Saturday, October 24 at Glenville State.

What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I’m mostly either playing video games, or playing basketball. If not that, then trying to find music that I am interested in.

What is your favorite food?
I must say my mom’s lasagna; she makes the best in the world. That and cornbread, they just can’t be beat.

What's your favorite song or musical artist?
Musical artist right now are Jay-Z, Drake, and Trey Songz. Favorite song is right now is Give Ya by Drake and Trey Songz.

What person(s) dead or alive you would like to sit down and have dinner with? Why?
Definitely my mother because she passed when I was very young, and I didn’t even know her at all. And my grandmother too, I just miss her so much.

Do you have a nickname? If so, how do you get it?
At home it's B.J, which stands for Barry Junior. At school my teammates call me Bavvy/Bevvy. Don’t really know why but it’s stuck on.

What is your major?
Biology!

Who is your favorite athlete of all-time?
I would have to say Kobe Bryant.

Have you ever had an embarrassing moment while playing sports?
Haha, highly confidential.

What is your favorite track or cross country moment moment?
Well, definitely after the 5k at Conference for track last season during my freshman year. We placed four runners in the top five places (2-5). That gave our team 20 points and basically capped of the meet so that we would win since we were in second place and that was the second to last event of the meet. Then after that our 4x4 team just went crazy, won their event, and set a new meet record. So that is probably a moment I will remember forever. I place 3rd by the way!

Do you have a pre-meet ritual?
No, I don’t think so. I just go with whatever to be absolutely honest.

You were a part of two championship teams (one cross country and one track) as a freshman, what was that like?
Well that was huge. To be a freshman and help contribute to our teams success was unbelievable. I feel as if the reason I did so good was because of my teammates and how they helped push me on and on, and our closeness yet competitive edge with each other.

How would you assess the 2009 cross country season?
So far it’s been great. We have a very talented group of freshman that have came in and they are determined, period. I am looking forward to this weekend where we will have our Conference Championship at Glenville and hopefully come out of there with a win.

You mentioned the upcoming WVIAC championship meet this weekend. What are your expectations heading into it?
I am expecting not just myself but my whole team to perform like we have been all year and to the best of our ability. I want us to go out there and give it our all no matter what happens just to give our best.

You broke Eric Chandler’s record in the steeple event last season. What does that accomplishment mean to you?
It felt pretty good, especially since I heard he is in our Hall of Fame, so maybe, just maybe I could follow in those footsteps…maybe.

You are a sophomore now, but have you given any thought about your plans following graduation?
Well right now I’ll hold that thought. I have plenty of other things to worry about now, but when it gets here I will be ready for it.

Previously Featured Wesleyan Athletes:
September 22-Jill Morrison
September 29-Andrew Baldasare
October 6-Keith Branch
October 13-Callie Witkosky