Not only do they share the same home, clothes and DNA, but they also share one similarity that many twins do not: valuable spots on the same varsity team.
Juniors Angela and Vanessa Clare are three-year varsity track athletes. They compete against each other in high jump, long jump and triple jump. They also run hurdles, however Vanessa runs in the 100-meter hurdle race and Angela the 300-meter hurdle race.
The twins both find success in their separate events. During her sophomore year, Vanessa scored a 19.42a in the 100m Hurdles, a 5’ 0.00 in the High Jump, a 15’ 11.00 in the Long Jump, and 33’ 5.50 in the Triple Jump. Meanwhile, Angela earned a 51.76a in the 300m Hurdles, a 4’10.00 in the High Jump, a 16’6.50 in the Long Jump, and a 35’3.50w in the Triple Jump.
Although they both shine in their own hurdle events, their overlapping events (high jump, long jump, and triple jump), stir even more competition
While most track competitors fight for the winning title, the twins find themselves competing for the bragging rights.
“We probably wouldn’t do track if it weren’t for each other,” Vanessa said. “We just want to be better than the other.”
The twins compete in the same heat, and therefore run side by side and jump one after the other. Their scores often come so close that the winner of the two varies with each meet.
According to Vanessa, they received the exact same score in triple jump during the first meet of the season. Their neck-and-neck competition fuels their rivalry.
“We’re definitely not competitive with other people [at the meet],” Vanessa said.
The sisters simultaneously began their track careers in middle school, where they competed in their first meet and discovered their love for the sport.
After graduating from Del Mar Middle School and transitioning to Redwood, the pair was unsure of their future in track.
“Freshman year was different [from middle school], so if Angela wasn’t there I probably wouldn’t have continued,” Vanessa said.
Today, friendly competition has turned into a full-time commitment. With a meet almost every week, the twins rarely have spare time to relax. The first half of the year is completely devoted to focusing on school to compensate for the second half, in which they are almost fully scheduled. During track season and preseason, the twins practice six days a week.
Their competitive tendencies don’t disappear off the track. According to the sisters, the rivalry carries over to schoolwork as well.
“I ended up taking the same next year because she wanted to, and I have to keep up with her,” Angela said.
Although they take the majority of the same courses and have PSAT scores within 10 points of each other, they do not plan on attending the same college unless they both have interest in the same school.
In the end, the Clares owe their dedication and love for track to one another.
“When she’s gone [from practice], I’m just so lonely,” Angela said. “Even though I don’t run with her most of the time, it just feels wrong.”
