Pridgen twins take on track season (with video)
February 12, 2016
On a typical morning, Coppell High School junior Hannah Pridgen wakes up at 5:30 in the morning and runs multiple miles on the CHS track or on sidewalks around Coppell with the cross country team.
On that same morning, Hannah’s fellow CHS junior and twin sister Emily Pridgen sleeps in and goes to school for first period. Emily then goes to track practice during seventh period and stays after school for pole vault practice.
Coppell High School juniors Hannah Pridgen (left) and Emily Pridgen (right) are twins who are both on the CHS track team. Emily is a pole vaulter and Hannah is a long distance runner.
The Pridgen twins don’t practice or work out together, but on the days of track meets they compete side-by-side, working towards a common victory for their team.
Throughout high school, Emily and Hannah have participated in various sports other than track. Emily participated in gymnastics at Texas Dreams Gymnastics, and Hannah joined the Coppell High School cross country team during her sophomore year.
However, this year is the first time that either of the twins have been on the track team; and playing the same sport is something they are looking forward to for this spring track season.
“When we were younger we used to do sports together, like swimming and basketball,” Emily said. “But then we kind of split up and did different things so it’s fun to be together in the same sport again.”
Although they are both in the track program, Hannah runs long distance events and Emily is a pole vaulter. The twins do not look particularly alike, but their coaches and teammates have noticed similarities in their work ethic and motivation.
“[Emily and Hannah are] doing two different things but they’re equally as excited about doing well in the disciplines that they’re working in,” head cross country and girls track coach Nick Benton said.
After school on Feb. 11, Coppell High School junior Emily Pridgen watches a video of herself pole vaulting with track and field coach Don Kemp in order to improve her form. Pridgen practices pole vaulting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at CHS during track season.
Because they participate in different events within the same sport, it is easy for them to support each other at track meets without having to compete against one another.
“It’s fun to challenge each other to be better and be hard on one another, but we also get to support each other,” Hannah said. “Being in the same sport, it’s easier to support each other because if she has a hard [track] meet then I can be there to support her and if I do then she can support me.”
Emily and Hannah’s first track meet was a tri-meet versus Highland Park High School and Lovejoy High School on Feb 5. Their next meet will be on Feb 20; but in the meantime, the Pridgen twins will continue their excitement and hard work that will undoubtedly lead to a successful season.