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Leaside tracks home three silver, two gold at provincials

When it comes to running track, Sophie and Chloe Coutts may just have their opponents seeing double.

The identical twins are part of Leaside High School’s gold and silver-medal winning midget team at York University on June 7-9.

The three-day track and field event witnessed Sophie claim two silvers, while teammate Isabella Goudros earned a silver and a gold. As a team, the midget girls won gold, thanks to Chloe.

Being identical twins on the lanes isn’t all fun and games though.

“It’s pretty competitive. It’s also pretty hard. You both want to win. But only one can win – we push each other hard,” Sophie said in a mid-June phone interview. “Sometimes we run together and we’ll talk to each to push each other.”

Sophie earned her silvers in the 800 and 1500-meter runs. The former she finished with a 2:14.99 time, and the latter she pulled in a 4:44.10. Chloe ran a time of 4:53.67 in the 1500-meter, good enough to lift the team to gold in the overall points totals with 45. The next closest team was 22 points behind.

Isabella Goudros pulled in a gold in the 200-meter dash (midget) and a silver in the 100-meter dash (midget). Her times were 24.59 and 12.22 respectively.

Even though she made it to the finals, Chloe admitted she was a little jittery.

“I kind of psyched myself out a lot. Because OFSAA is so hyped, I was a bit nervous,” she said. “Yesterday I ran a 3K. I ran 20 seconds faster than at OFSAA. I think nerves have a lot to do with it.”

Coach Helen Panayiotou told them to hit the York University track and race their best.

No matter what the result, mom Susanne said, any race is bittersweet. Regardless she’s rooting for both, as well as team member Goudros.

“As a team, I know that with Leaside High, they’ve never had such a strong Grade 9 year,” she said. “Izzy is an excellent athlete. They represented their school well. That’s just my mother plug right there.”

The Coutts twins have a couple of more races to run with their club, Central Toronto Athletic Club, before calling it a summer break, then it’s time to train for cross country. They look to improve on their 2017 standing with Sophie earning silver and Chloe earning 10th.

“It’s an interesting dynamic,” Susanne Coutts said of her twins. “But it’s part of the reason why they are as successful as they are.”