Schuh sisters article (IL)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo ... 08878.html

A good fit
Crystal Lake South twins adapt quickly to running hurdles

BY MATT HARNESS
STAFF WRITER

Kellie and Aimee Schuh give the Gators two reasons to believe they can contend for the FVC Meet title.

Just moments after arriving at Conant's Twilight Invitational on Friday, even before stashing her stuff near the team's tent, Crystal Lake South pole vaulter Kellie Schuh ran off to prepare for competition.

Twin sister Aimee had a little more time to get settled, but not much. Shortly after dropping off her bags, Aimee was out on the track running through hurdle drills.

Typically, the sophomores will compete in four events for the Gators, and they aren't just filling holes in coach Christy Tenopir's lineup. The Schuhs are two of the most talented athletes at South and big reasons why the Gators captured the McHenry County Meet title and are favorites for today's (Thursday) FVC Meet at Woodstock.

"It's a combination of hard work, dedication and desire," Tenopir said of the identical twins, born 29 minutes apart. "They don't settle. You couldn't ask for anything more than that. The desire is unbelievable."

The Schuhs arrived at Crystal Lake South as freshmen looking for a sport. They decided to go out for the track and field team, but neither was sure which event she was best suited.

A gym teacher in junior high suggested Aimee give hurdles a try. Because of the sisters' background in gymnastics, the event seemed a good fit. She wound up landing a spot in the Gators' 100-meter high hurdles lineup.

"The first thing that came to my mind was (the hurdle) is not as high as the vault (in gymnastics)," Aimee said. "It took me a minute to get it right."

Maybe less than that.

Tenopir marvels at how few practices the sisters needed to adapt to their difficult events -- Aimee in the 100 and Kellie in the 300 low hurdles.

"They are such quick learners," said the coach, who credits assistant Kathleen Cory with teaching the twins.

What's more amazing is Kellie never cleared a hurdle until her first varsity meet.

"It kind of freaked me out," said Kellie, the team's record-holder at 46.5.

The younger Schuh was one of only five freshmen among the 41 girls to compete at State in the 300 low hurdles a year ago. All 10 finalists were juniors or seniors, but Kellie's performance floored Tenopir, who had never sent a hurdler to State before.

"It's incredible," Tenopir said.

Aimee wound up spraining her back during pole vaulting, cutting last season short. She could only watch as her bad back forced her to miss most of the major meets.

"I hated sitting around and doing nothing," she said.

Kellie could feel her sister's pain.

"It wasn't a lot of fun watching her last year," Kellie said. "She wanted to be out there. It was hard for her. She would get upset at all the meets."

Inspired by her sister's sensational first season, Aimee was determined to make it back to the track. Pete Schuh assisted his daughters' training by constructing two hurdles out of PVC pipe last summer so they could train in the front yard.

"One day he said, 'I'm going to build some hurdles. How tall are they?' " Aimee recalled.

When she finally recovered for her sophomore season, Aimee admitted she was nervous before her first race. By winning the 100 high hurdles at county, she proved she's ready to share the stage with her sister.

Both continue to improve their personal-best marks this year. Once the conference meet is over, the twins will turn their attention to the May 13 Guilford Sectional and qualifying for State. After watching Kellie compete in Charleston a year ago, Aimee hopes the two can make it a double-date at O'Brien Stadium May 19-20.

"Last year was a learning experience for both of them," Tenopir said. "Both being healthy has helped them so much, and I think Kellie's success last season drives them forward. They amaze me."

[vaulterdani]

when kellie vaults and goes over she really flys over and goes pretty far... at our last meet i was moving the standards and she had hers at 26. (it was the FVC meet)
if you wanted to know.....