Double DOUBLE Vision

The Stratz and Jenkins sisters—track teammates and identical twins—talk running, rituals, and more.

Compiled by Tony Marchetti

Photographs of the Amber Stratz and Brianna Stratz, twin sisters

	Amber Stratz Health studies major Runs: middle distance and cross country	Brianna Stratz Health studies major; biology minor Runs: middle distance
Before Monmouth	Competitive runners since age 9, the Stratz sisters were members of the state-record-holding 4×800 indoor and outdoor relay teams at Central Bucks High School South.
Do you have a pre-race ritual?	I’m not ritualistic, so I treat race day like any other. I don’t want to get too “in my head,” because if I had a ritual and something went wrong, I wouldn’t want to freak out.	I eat a lot of pasta and chicken the night before, but not much the morning of because of nerves. An hour before my race, I’ll drink a double-shot espresso so I’m really awake. And I always chew mint gum during stretches.
What’s something you’ve learned in sports that’s helped you in life?	I never really wanted to run anything longer than a mile, but after my sophomore year at Monmouth, I tried cross country at my coach’s suggestion. I loved it. As a junior, I set our school’s record for the Paul Short Run at Lehigh. It showed the hard work I put in paid off. It gave me confidence, and it was a turning point in my running career.	When I ran the 1,000 meters at the USATF Indoor Championships, I toed the line with professional runners whom I idolize. I never in a million years imagined I’d run competitively after college, but after that event my coach told me, “If you want to continue doing this, you can. You just showed you can run with the pros.”
Ever have one of those cliché “twin moments?”	In sixth grade, we switched classes to try to fool people. It was funny, but afterward we were like, OK, we did that. We can cross it off the list.	People who don’t know us make assumptions. Whenever there’s something I don’t like, people automatically assume Amber doesn’t like it either.
What’s your sister better at than you?	Speed workouts.	Distance running.
What’s something you’re better at than your sister?	Distance. I can run for longer than she can.	Running fast.
Since timing is everything, particularly in track, who’s older?	Amber, by 19 minutes.

Photographs of the Tiyanna Jenkins and Iyanna Jenkins, twin sisters

	Tiyanna Jenkins Marketing major Runs: sprints	Iyanna Jenkins Marketing major Runs: sprints
Before Monmouth	Soccer standouts as kids, the Jenkins sisters took up track in their teens, and were co-captains of both the track and soccer teams at Linden High School.
Do you have a pre-race ritual?	I drink lots of water the night before. I listen to gospel music on the bus to the meet. When I’m warming up, I listen to hip hop—Meek Mill—to get me excited. When I step to the line, I say a prayer to help me stay focused.	I lay out my clothes the night before—headband, socks, everything. I also listen to gospel music the morning of a race, but I listen to YG Teck at the meet to get going. When I’m on the line, I say a little prayer and then let my mind go blank.
What’s something you’ve learned in sports that’s helped you in life?	Running track has taught me patience. Some people might have a bad race and beat themselves up because they’re training so hard and want to see immediate results. But I’ve learned that when I focus on what I need to do from A to Z, the results will show in time. That’s important. I can take that anywhere in life.	Transitioning from high school to college track was mentally tough. In high school, you might practice for two hours and then you’re done for the day. In college, track is like a full-time job. I didn’t realize that at first. Figuring out how to balance everything I had to do has been key.
Ever have one of those cliché “twin moments?”	Iyanna will be thinking of a song, and I’ll start singing it. Or she’ll be thinking about a certain food and, without knowing it, I’ll say that’s what I want to eat.	Our parents dressed us alike as kids, but that stopped in high school. Yet even now we’ll come out of our rooms unknowingly having dressed in the same outfits.
What’s your sister better at than you?	Track.	Being creative.
What’s something you’re better at than your sister?	I was an all-around better soccer player.	Driving, and it’s arguable what Tiyanna said about being better than me at soccer.
Since timing is everything, particularly in track, who’s older?	Tiyanna, by 2 minutes.