Theis sisters pushing, and pulling for, each other

By Mary Albl of DyeStat.com

Jaden Theis wants to beat her older sister Olivia. But the sophomore knows she’s just not quite fast enough yet. So instead, she’s managed to find a silver lining. 

“I’m pretty much crushing her times from her sophomore year,” Jaden Theis said matter-of-factly. 

Ah, sisterly love. 

This fall, Olivia and Jaden have emerged as a strong one-two punch for the Lansing Catholic High MI cross country team, and a last name to watch out for on the national scene. 

“They mesh really well,” Lansing head coach Tim Simpson said. “I think sometimes, like sisters would, they get into little personal arguments, (but) they pretty much work as a team; they really do help each other out.”

At the MSU Spartan Invitational on Sept. 15, Olivia Theis, a senior, No. 12 in the latest DyeStat.com national rankings, captured first in 16 minutes, 59 seconds, breaking a course previously held by Audrey Belf (17:14) in 2013. Jaden was less than 30 seconds back, capturing third place in 17:26.8. 

“(That time) definitely tells me I’m improving from where I was last year,” said Olivia, who placed 14th at Foot Locker National Championships last year. 

Added Jaden: “I did not think I would break 18 by that much. I was impressed by that.”

The two are at different points in their running careers, but are able to experience all the highs and lows that running has to offer together. 

“I think she definitely makes me tougher,” Olivia said. “I don’t want her to beat me, and she pushes me more. She’s someone I run with all the time. We are sisters, we have been there for each other our whole lives. We always have each other to lift each other up.”

This is the second cross country season they’ve experienced together on the trails. Olivia, a former softball player, played up until her junior year, with their older sister Sydney. She arrived this fall with more than a year of strictly running on her resume. Combine that fitness level with her extreme focus and preparedness, Simpson said those are intangibles that make her such an elite runner. 

“You tell her do something and you can count on her that she’s going to do it,” he explained. “She’s going to execute it.”

Describing Jaden, Simpson goes back to her eighth-grade year in middle school when she was injured and could not run. He said the tiny, shy runner used the situation to become a stronger runner. 

“She came to practice every single day and worked on her core,” Simpson said. “She really became very strong and fit.”

Simpson said the sisters both thrive on challenges and hard work.  

At the Cougar Falcon Invitational in Grand Rapids on Saturday, Olivia clocked 16:58.7 to win. Jaden was runner-up in 17:19.2. 

“She pretty much knows she’s not going to get Olivia now, but she goes out with her,” Simpson said of Jaden. “She's not intimidated by one of the best runners in the country and doesn’t back down from her.”

That is Jaden’s personality though. According to big sister, when Jaden puts her mind to someone or something, she’ll do it.

“I think she’s going to beat all my records that I’ve gotten,” Olivia said. “I think with the mindset that she has, she’s going to do amazing things. She’s unique.” 

Jaden, who calls her sister “motivating” and “nice to everyone” said the sport of running has brought the two closer together. 

“(We have) our ups and down, but that’s normal, we are sisters,” Jaden said. “We have a good time.”

With the championship season a little more than a month away, the two said they’ve both thought about the possibility of qualifying together for the Foot Locker National Championships in San Diego.

If so, they would be the first sisters to do so since 2014 when Makena and Bryn Morley of Montana both qualified.  

“I think that would be awesome,” Jaden said. “I know she (Olivia) can do it again easily, but if I can do, I would be very impressed with myself. If we both it made it here, that’d be really cool.”

In June at New Balance Nationals, Olivia finished second in the championship 2-mile (10:14.34) and Jaden was eighth (10:38.94).

But right now, the Theis sisters are just enjoying racing together and everything that comes with it. 

“It’s been really fun,” Olivia said. “It’s going to be kind of hard next year when I go to college.”