Sister Act: A pair of Panthers

A sibling rivalry can be intriguing, but when a pair of sisters push each other in sports great things can happen.

Jaycee Erickson is now a freshman at Saco High School and her sister Teagan Erickson, now a seventh grader each broke two Saco Middle School track records a piece last track season.

"It's cool that we are both breaking records together," Jaycee said.

As an eighth grader last season, Jaycee set the school record for javelin after becoming the first javelin thrower to make the board. Her throw was 74-3.

"It was only my first time ever throwing javelin, so I didn't know what I was doing," Jaycee said. "It was on my third try that I got it."

Because there was no record marked on the school's board, Coach Barry Malone paid close attention to how far Jaycee threw in the event in Malta.

"Mr. Malone was helping me and he was telling me how my arm was supposed to be, how it should come off of my fingers and he was telling me how to hold it," Jaycee said.

Jaycee also set a new mark for pole vault by clearing 8-0. The previous record was held by Verniece Weyrauch, who cleared 7-2 in 1997.

"I knew the record was 7-2 and I was trying to get 7-9," Jaycee said about the day she set the record.

Unlike javelin, pole vault has been an event that Jaycee has worked on for all three years of junior high. Each year she set a goal for herself.

"My goal was 8-0 last year, so I got it," Jaycee said. "I set a goal of 6-0 for sixth grade, 7-0 for seventh grade and 8-0 for eight grade.

Teagan's first year of junior high proved successful as she broke a pair of records. She broke the school's junior high 800 record with a time of 2:43.4 during a meet in Glasgow. The previous record was 2:45.59 set by Denyce Brutke in 1983.

"I knew the record and that it had been there for a long time," Teagan said. "I just wanted to beat it. I pushed myself and when someone came up behind me, I just ran a little faster."

she described her emotions after setting the 800 record.

"I was really happy and my mom was too," Teagan said. "We just kept jumping up and down."

Teagan also became the sole record holder in high jump by clearing 4-8. The previous record was 4-6 set by Alana Malmend in 2013, and then tied by Jaydyn Erickson in 2017.

Erickson shared how she is able to jump so high.

"I am always jumping at home, trying to touch the top of doorways," Teagan said. "Jaycee tries to do the same."

Jaycee admitted something that may be tough for an older sibling to admit.

"Teagan jumps higher but she is also way taller and has a longer arm-span," Jaycee said. "I think that I could jump farther but Teagan can jump higher."

Jaycee stands at about 5-5, while Teagan stands at around 5-7. The sisters were asked how they felt about their height difference and if there were any benefits to their situation.

"Even though she is taller and has longer legs, I think she is a better runner and can jump higher but I think I can beat her in short distance runs and I can definitely beat her in hurdles," Jaycee said.

Teagan added what she thought was beneficial about being taller.

"I can definitely reach way higher than she can because of my long arms," Teagan said. "And probably jump way higher too."

As siblings often do, the duo pushed themselves to be better with some prodding from Coach Malone.

"When we run during practice, he will make us run outside for the 800 and so we will kind of pace each other," Jaycee said.

The pushing must have worked because the sisters had a strong outing at the 2018 District 3C meet, the final meet of junior high track. Jaycee took first in pole vault with her record setting clearance of 8-0, first in the 100 meter hurdles with a personal best of 18.54, first in triple jump with a mark at 29-8. Teagan took first in high jump with her record setting 4-8 clearing, first in the 800 with a time of 2:47.7.

The 3C meet was their final junior high meet together with Jaycee moving on to high school. Though Jaycee will move up, she will still keep an eye on her little sister.

"Even though I will have different track meets and stuff, and if we don't have meets on the same day, I am still going to go and watch her," Jaycee said.

Though Jaycee will be able to watch junior track meets, Teagan will miss their days of competing together.

"She always pushes me to go faster," Teagan said.