The medal count continues to grow for Freeburg twins Kristen and Caitlin Busch.
The twins capped their junior year with a superb showing in the finals of the Class 1A state track meet on May 21 in Charleston, Kristen won the 3,200-meter run in a personal best 11 minutes, 5.39 seconds and placed third in the 1,600 (5:10.71). Caitlin, meanwhile, finished second in the 1,600 at 5:10.32 after running a school-record 5:10.12 in the prelims. Caitlin also finished third in the 800 (2:15.95).
The twins have combined for 18 state medals in track and cross country, including another state title for Kristen in the 3,200 as a freshman in 2009 and her state cross country championship last fall.
"Their junior year was definitely their best," said Freeburg cross country coach Carl Florczyk. "They keep on turning out great time after great time, and sometimes you take it for granted, but as a coach, they're definitely a pleasure to be around."
"Sometimes because there's two of them, they don't get the individual attention they deserve, especially Caitlin," said track coach Doug Zerjal. "She's probably the greatest cross country and distance runner we've ever had except for her sister."
For Kristen, her second state title in the 3,200 may have been even more meaningful than the first one.
"This one was a lot different because my freshman year I really didn't know what to expect," Kristen said. "I just went out there and ran, but this year I knew what I had to do. I knew what my pace was, and I wanted to break my PR (personal record), which was 11:09."
In 2010, Kristen placed third in the 3,200 at 11:20.03. Kelly Curran of Bloomington Central Catholic won in 11:12.03, and Julia Buford of Chicago Latin was second at 11:20.00.
"I knew last year that Kelly had run a lot faster time than me, so I was kind of scared the whole time," Kristen said. "This year I was a lot more confident."
Caitlin, like her sister, wasn't happy with her performance at the 2010 state track meet where she was fourth in the 1,600 and 10 in the 800. Going into this year's meet, she felt more confident.
"I kind of expected to make the finals. I really wanted to get the school record in the mile, and I was able to do that. My times were a lot better than last year.
"Compared to state cross country, I feel a little more pressure at state (track), I guess because of the big stadium and everything. Being through them a few times helps, but I still have some nerves."
The Busches are already setting goals for their senior year.
"Our times all year got consistently better. Our team has gotten better, too," Kristen said. "Next year we want to get team trophies in cross country and track. Every year we're getting higher places, so I think we can do it.
"We look to increase our mileage this summer and hopefully we can run as a team a lot more."
While the twins aren't exactly natural vocal leaders, their leadership by example is hard to match.
"The whole team is built around them," Zerjal said. "They would never say that, but that's the reality, and Carl would say the same thing about cross country. When you have them, especially at the state track, you're always looking at ways to use them so you can score some more points."
"They've shown a great work ethic ever since their freshman year, and leadership-wise I expect them to make an even bigger difference as seniors," Florczyk added. "In cross country and track, I think they can take both teams up to the next level."
After graduating from Freeburg next spring, the twins hope to run track and cross county for a Division I school.
"We're still looking, but we'd like to make a decision by the beginning of next year," Caitlin said.
