Frances Koons commits to Villanova, but first there's a big race to run "for family and for Pennsylvania."
Wednesday April 14, the first day of the Late Signing Period,
Francis Koons inks her commitment to attend Villanova University next fall. 
Frances Koons - the Allentown Central Catholic distance star and 2003 PIAA state champion in XC, 2004 PTFCA Indoor State Champ in the Mile and 3000 - has come full circle from the Science and Engineering academic camp at Villanova University during the summer of 2002. As a sophomore, it was one of only two colleges she knew anything about. The other was Muhlenberg, just two blocks from her home in Allentown. Koons spent five weeks at Villanova that summer enrolled in a Science and Engineering camp. "I thought it was the coolest thing that I was there, because I knew Villanova's great tradition of runners.
She also apparently knew the who was who in the current coaching ranks, because early into the camp she approached 'Nova legend (and men's coach) Marcus O'Sullivan to ask him where she could go for runs. Koons says it was that summer that charged her running career. "That was the base I needed for junior year to come out and have that solid cross country season, and it was because I was at Villanova." She won her first cross country meet that season, and real breakthroughs came in Outdoor track when she broke five minutes in the 1600 and ran 10:40 for 3200. "I realized I did belong there. I've always said it's about gaining more confidence."
Koons' Villanova camp visit in 10th grade must have made an impression on O'Sullivan, too, because when she visited campus this year for her official visit, she asked him if he remembered her from that camp. Koons says O'Sullivan knew who she was because 'she was only Science & Engineering camper that asked him for a great place to run.'
Also competing for Koons' talent were Providence and the University of Virginia. "It was a really hard decision. There were a lot of color-coded charts involved. And we had a lot of discussions about it. It wasn't just an overnight decision. Distance was a factor, but in the end, the combination of academics and running at Villanova was going to be the best for me."
Koons will race this coming Saturday at the Father Judge Relays, and then take to the national stage once again in the High School Invitational Mile at the Penn Relays on Thursday, April 22. Koons is the 2nd seed in the race behind Freshman phenom Devon Williams of Towson Catholic in Maryland. Williams won the Hispanic Games mile in 4:50.76, with Koons 3rd that day in 4:55.13. She set the state Indoor Record in the Mile with a 4:53.18 win at Penn State University at the PTFCA State Championships.
And she is psyched for the crowd, the tradition and the competition of the Penn Relays. "My whole family is going to be there, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins." An aunt lives near the Philly Art Museum, so the Koons klan will have a family shuttle of sorts to and from Franklin Field. And how important is the race? "Everything is geared toward the Penn Relays right now. I want to have a really great mile race. I really want to win the race, and I really want to get a great time. Mainly for my family, to dedicate it to them."
Surrounded by family in the Allentown Central Catholic library, including sister and brother, Anne and Joe, her father, Fred, and mother, Lisa, and grandparents Fred and Ann. 
And Koons anticipates a lot of support from Pennsylvania track fans. "It's like when you're rooting for the Eagles, or Phillies or Flyers, you always want the home team to win. And I feel like I'm the home team when I go to the Penn Relays. I want to go out there and win for my family and for Pennsylvania. There's people from other states along with a girl from Trinidad, so I feel it's an honor to represent Pennsylvania."
After talent, a relentless work ethic, and great coaching, the main source of Koons' success has to be family. And one difference with many on the sidelines is that her family won't stand out. "My parents aren't the kind of parents you'll see yelling on the sideline. Cheering me on, sure, but there is never any kind of pressure or negative comments. It was always 'good job', 'we're proud of you'. I get a hug and a kiss before every meet. And my brothers and sisters are there. And everyone else is there. It gives me an extra shot of strength. I really feel like there's that extra person there, running with me."
And it continues even in bad weather. The day before her college signing, it was raining hard. Frances was scheduled for a track workout. Her dad and sister, Anne, accompanied her. Anne ran two miles around the track and her dad did the timing. "Even though I'm out there hurting, they're out there with me, too. And it's never been any different, even when I wasn't running like I do now. They''ve been behind the scenes all these years, and that's what has really made it count."