COLONY — The Allen family is making their mark on the Crest cross country team.
Sisters Kaylee, a senior, Aubrey, a sophomore, and twins Jordan and Lynnex, both sixth graders, are all running cross country at Crest this fall and all are focused on improving their own times and Crest’s team finishes.
“It’s really cool to have a group of sisters who all run together,” Crest head coach Kaitlyn Cummings said. “They may be different speeds, but even on easy days, they’re all making sure they’re running hard. They are really making an impact on the program. Each one has individual goals, but they’re all showing effort, heart and drive for our team.”
OLDEST sister Kaylee, 17, is the only dual-sport athlete of the quartet, also playing volleyball. This is her first year competing in cross country. She’s played volleyball all four years but decided this year would be good to join her sisters.
“It helps us grow together as a family and build stronger bonds as siblings,” said Kaylee. “We get to spend more time together, push each other and whenever somebody feels like giving up, we turn to each other and say ‘you’ve got this.’”
AUBREY, 15, is certainly the one her sisters look to for advice on how to run longer distances consistently. After notching a 24th place finish at the state meet last year, she also came in fifth place at the Three Rivers League meet before finishing in seventh place at the 1A regional meet.
Aubrey had surgery on her elbow to repair the damage she sustained during P.E. class last year and is still currently recovering from the injury. “I like being that leader, showing them how to do it and I want to make sure the younger ones are running with their heart and don’t ever give up,” Aubrey said. “I want my younger siblings to know to never give up and if you fall down, just get up and go.”
“I’ve had to put in the work. The first two meets were a little bumpy and I didn’t do too well there, but I’ve been improving and I’m back to a few seconds off my personal-record,” said Aubrey. “I’m just trying to get back to where I was.”
YOUNGER twin siblings, Jorden and Lynnex, 11, are motivated by their sisters’ success and the medals and achievements they’ve seen them earn on the course. The quartet usually train together after school and on the weekends, pushing each other to be the best runner.
Lynnex recently finished third while Jorden came in seventh place in the seventh grade girls two-mile run at the Humboldt cross country meet on Sept. 20.
“I want to run with them, so it pushes me. I can help them do better,” said Jorden. “I want to do well in cross country like them and get medals.”
A funny moment even happened when Aubrey and Lynnex were training together and Lynnex had a mishap with some bubble gum.
“My favorite memory was when Lynnex and I were running with each other at the end of a hard workout. She chokes on her gum, spits it out and catches it. I look over and can’t believe what just happened,” Aubrey laughed.
The sisters continue to find ways to have fun and push each other as the season enters the home strech.
The younger Allen sisters prefer the Wellsville and Fort Scott cross country courses while the older pair prefer Humboldt. Crest ran at the Central Heights cross country meet on Thursday, Sept. 29.
Results were not available before presstime.
