As girls, the twins played soccer. During their junior high years, they began running track in the spring while continuing to play soccer in the fall. Their sophomore year in high school, both switched to cross country instead of playing soccer.
“For a while, Kara said she was a soccer player who ran,” Tara said.
Now, they both consider themselves runners.
After graduating from Beavercreek High School in 1999, both Tara and Kara went to the University of Dayton where they ran cross country as well as indoor and outdoor track.
Both qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 10K event, but only Tara ran. Kara was on crutches after being injured in a race prior to the trials.
A few years later, the twins set their sights on competing in marathons. Both qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials with her first marathon. Kara qualified in the Twin Cities Marathon and Tara qualified in the Chicago Marathon.
In the women’s division of the trials, the twins finished just one second apart. Kara came in 41st at 2 hours, 39 minutes, 59 seconds, and Tara was 42nd in 2 hours, 40 minutes. While both women set personal records in the trials, they believe they can improve their times.
“We felt we both just ran the race,” Tara said, explaining that they could have focused more on strategizing.
Now, the twins are focusing more on nutrition, paying attention to their biomechanics, and increasing their speed. To prepare for 2016, they are now running in races that are distances of half-marathons or less.
In addition to both pursuing running, the twins also chose similar career paths. Both work as material research engineers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. However, they point out that they work in different buildings.
Both also try to encourage educational and athletic outreach programs. Recently the twins served as grand marshals for the Main Elementary School PTO 5K Run/Walk in Beavercreek.
The women said that being twin runners attracts some attention. For them, they like having each other as a training partner.
“We have a friendly rivalry, but a positive one,” Tara said. “If you have to lose to someone, it’s best to lose to your sister.”
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