OGDEN — There are a lot of similarities between Chloe Calton and Sarah Callister. Both are juniors at Ogden High. Each carry a 4.0 grade point average. Both are daughters of physicians, and their fathers are business partners as well.
And, fortunately for the Tigers track and field team, Calton and Callister also share a talent and passion for running. For the third straight year, the junior duo are forming a winning combination for Ogden in all distance events.
Calton finished second in the 800 and 1,600 meters and placed third in the 3,200 at the 3A state meet as a sophomore. Callister took second in the 3,200 at the same meet and finished fourth in the 1,600 and fifth in the 800.
There could be a state title or two in store for either athlete this time around after the strong performances they put together at the 2008 Arcadia Invitational.
Calton had a breakout performance nationally with a pair of top 10 finishes. Her time of 5 minutes and 6.15 seconds in the women's one mile invitational race was good for ninth overall. And Calton earned 10th place in the women's 800 invitational with her time of 2 minutes and 15.50 seconds.
She sees the experience gained from racing against national level competition as invaluable for her prospects this season.
"To place in the top 10 was exciting," Calton said. "I didn't quite get the times I wanted to. But every time I race, I learn something so I can race better next time."
Callister made her mark in the 3,200 meter invitational section, finishing in 10 minutes and 48.32 seconds. It was the junior's first time eclipsing the 11-minute barrier and put her among the top 40 3,200 runners nationally.
"I didn't place that high, but I was happy with my time," Callister said.
The duo followed up with equally impressive results at the BYU Invitational. Calton won the 1,600 with a time of 5:12.81 and her 800 time of 2:15.67 secured third place in that event. Callister finished second in the 1,600, crossing the line in 5:13.78. She also finished third in the 3,200 with a time of 11:07.02
With those kind of results, it has Ogden coach Don Hall thinking the Tigers have a strong chance at finally shedding their bridesmaid status at this year's state meet and improve on four straight second or third place finishes.
Hall is impressed with how Calton and Callister seem to have no visible ceiling on their progression as runners.
"Their commitment and dedication to running is second to no one I've coached," Hall said.
Both Calton and Callister ran track or cross country in one form or another since sixth-grade. But neither girl saw it growing into such a serious pursuit.
Callister tried soccer for a while before gravitating to running. Although several of her friends continued playing soccer, she thought her athletic abilities were better suited for track and cross country.
Calton, like Callister, moved from the soccer field to the track. The running bug first bit her during informal mile competitions in elementary school, where she posted good results against her fellow classmates.
Her parents encouraged her to develop those abilities by committing the necessary time and training once she took up the sport more seriously in high school.
"They pointed out to me that, in high school, track could be a big deal for me," Calton said. "It could be something I really do well in if I work at it."
A piece of advice which has proved true for both girls.
E-mail: jcoon@desnews.com