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Merriweather sisters at Union on track for state titles

Twins among tops in the state in 200, 400 meters

By Micah Rice, Columbian Sports Editor

Published: May 5, 2015, 5:00pm

Union High School's identical twin sisters Dai'lyn, left, and Jai'lyn Merriweather shown, Thursday, April 30, 2015, are two of the top sprinters in the state. Dai'lyn has the state's best 200 meter time while Jai-lyn has the third-best 400 meter time.(

Dai’lyn and Jai’lyn Merriweather have been racing long before they started track and field in the third grade.

The identical twin sisters share the same DNA, which has a very strong competitive strand.

Some of their earliest memories are seeing who was faster, stronger or could jump higher.

“Say if we were at the store, we’d race to the car,” Dai’lyn said. “We still do that today.”

To which Jai’lyn added “We don’t like to lose.”

The sophomores at Union High School don’t lose often on the track.

Dai’lyn’s season-best in the 200 meters of 24.90 seconds is the fastest this year among Washington high school athletes.

Jai’lyn’s time of 56.82 seconds in the 400 meters is third best in the state and second best among Class 4A athletes.

And both run on 400, 800 and 1,600 meter relay teams that rank in the top 10 statewide across all classifications.

The 1,600 relay, which also includes Alexis Fuller and Nicole Carlson, ran a state-best and school-record time of 3:52.71 at the Jesuit Twilight Relays on Friday.

“At a core level, they’re driven to be successful in whatever they do,” Union coach Scott Eschels said.

That’s why the Merriweathers are striding toward the state meet with that intense glare of a sprinter zoning in on a finish line.

That chase hits the home stretch at the 4A Greater St. Helens League District Meet on May 18-19 at McKenzie Stadium. The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for state May 28-30 in Tacoma.

Last year at state, Dai’lyn finished third and Jai’lyn fourth in the 400 meters. Dai’lyn added a fifth-place finish in the 200.

Both competed for Evergreen High School last year, but transferred to Union after their family moved inside that school’s boundary. They have a new school and new teammates, but their goal remains the same.

“(State) helped me to know where I was and how much harder I need to work to be where I need to be for this year,” Jai’Lyn said.

Coaching twins in nothing new for Eschels, who has three sets on this year’s track team. He knows there can be challenges beyond trying to keep track of who is who.

With the Merriweathers, Eschels felt it was important that they each have an event to specialize in. For Dai’lyn it’s the 200, while Jai’lyn focuses on the 400.

“With them being identical, you’d say ‘shouldn’t they be good in both races?’ Eschels said. “But it’s important they each have an event to call their own. It’s nice for each of them to break the tape.”

Eschels teaches both sisters in chemistry during first period. He sees a different type of chemistry at work when the Merriweathers hand off to each other on Union’s relay teams.

“Before each race, we have like our little twin pep talk,” Dai’lyn said. “If it’s a relay, it’s just a little 30-second pep talk before we go our separate ways, like OK you’ve got this.'”

The sister’s have a knack for finishing each other’s sentences. So, on cue, Jai’lyn added “You don’t want to be serious all the time, like I’ve got to win. You want to have those moments where you can just relax, be yourself and chill.”

So, if you think you’re seeing double at a Union track meet, take the Merriweathers’ advice and “chill.” But not for long, or they will have passed in a blur.

Top local track and field marks (rank in state, all classifications)

— Results according to Athletic.net, through Monday’s events.

Boys

100 meters

Eli Whitmire, Woodland, 10.90 (14)

200 meters

Kobey Eaton, Evergreen, 22.08 (9)

400 meters

Adam Ryan, Camas, 49.94 (16)

800 meters

Keaton Spiller, Heritage, 1:54.39 (4)

1,600 meters

Kaden Harbertson, Skyview, 4:23.00 (40)

3,200 meters

Kaden Harbertson, Skyview, 9:32.71 (31)

110 hurdles

Ryan Guenther, Camas, 14.44 (9)

300 hurdles

Jack Lamey, Union, 38.84 (5)

400 relay

Evergreen, 42.24 (2)

1600 relay

Camas, 3:26.39 (12)

Shot put

Bailey King, Union, 55-11.25 (4)

Discus

Bailey King, Union, 178-3 (2)

Javelin

Lexington Reese, Mountain View, 192-8 (4)

High jump

Peyton Fredrickson, Skyview, 6-10 (2)

Pole vault

Taryn Sciortino, Evergreen, 13-7 (24)

Long jump

Jacob Ringold, Columbia River, 22-8.5 (3)

Triple jump

Alec Dronen, Skyview, 44-6 (10)

Girls

100 meters

Kaylin Sperley, Prairie, 12.40 (14)

200 meters

Dai’lyn Merriweather, Union, 24.90 (1)

400 meters

Jai’lyn Merriweather, Union, 56.82 (3)

800 meters

Alexis Fuller, Union, 2:17.00 (10)

1600 meters

Alissa Pudlitzke, Camas, 5:06.00 (13)

3200 meters

Alissa Pudlitzke, Camas, 10:55.80 (9)

100 hurdles

Jordan Davis, Camas, 14.74 (4)

300 hurdles

Jordan Davis, Camas, 44.65 (6)

400 relay

Union, 49.88 (10)

800 relay

Union, 1:44.70 (7)

1,600 relay

Union, 3:52.71 (1)

Shot put

Nicole Corbett, 39-6 (13)

Discus

Nicole Corbett, 139-7 (2)

Javelin

Lilliana Delgadillo, Columbia River, 116-6 (52)

High jump

Evi Wilson, Columbia River, 5-4, (10)

Pole vault

Caleigh Lofstead, Camas, 12-9.5 (5)

Long jump

Brooke Williams, Columbia River, 17-1.5 (37)

Triple jump

Brooke Williams, Columbia River, 36-5 (16)

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