By Kyle LoJacono
One family is almost single handedly making the Freedom track and field team a top contender at every distance event — the Tedescos.
Annie, a sophomore, is the oldest of the running Tedesco sisters, followed closely on the track by freshman triplets Emily, Gabriella and Kristina.
“They give us a chance in every distance event they run in,” said Patriots track and field and cross country coach Dwight Smith. “They were a big part of the cross country team this year too, which was the first girls team at the school to make it to states.”
With the Tedescos, Freedom cross country finished as the Class 4A-District 6 runner-up. Annie finished the 5-kilometer state course in 20:48.38, good enough for 80th overall.
“Cross country doesn’t really get a lot of credit,” Annie said. “This year was the first time Freedom has gotten to states, so it’s nice to kind of put Freedom on the map.”
Emily also ran at the state cross country meet, placing 158th by posting a 23:20.91.
“It felt good because the athletic director and the principal called us down to the conference room to congratulate us on getting to states,” Emily said. “It made it seem like we really did matter and were making a difference for the school by bringing some recognition.”
Gabriella and Kristina ran junior varsity cross country this year and will likely move up to varsity in the fall, but they are already making contributions running the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events this track season, respectively.
“The feeling of getting better is so powerful,” Kristina said. “It just feels really good. I want to be the fastest.”
Annie is competing in the 4×800-meter relay along with the 1,600 and 3,200. Emily is running the 800 and 1,600.
“What I learned fast is they all have very different personalities,” Smith said. “They all look alike and they actually run exactly the same, but they’re very different personalities. They all bring something different to the team.”
Annie first picked up distance running because her parents and other relatives ran 5Ks, so it was natural for the triplets to do the same.
“Whenever coach (Smith) would see us at Annie’s meets last year he would say ‘so you guys are coming out next year,’” Gabriella said. “It’s kind of just expected for us to run too. It’s fun, so that helps.”
Annie couldn’t pick one reason why she enjoys distance running.
“It’s great having everyone cheering for you while you’re running,” Annie said. “It’s also fun trying to beat your own times. Our team is really close, so it’s great to be a part of that too.”
Emily said the team atmosphere is what she most enjoys.
“It’s just you and you’re trying to improve yourself, but even though track is individual in events the whole team is really close,” Emily said. “We’re like one big family.”
Kristina has the most individualistic view of running.
“For me I’m most competitive with myself,” Kristina said. “I’m mostly just trying to beat what I’ve previously done. If I do better, then my whole team does better, so that’s what I focus on. We feed off of each other’s success.”
The Tedescos and Freedom will compete at the Fifth Annual Spruce Creek Invitational, 801 Taylor Road in Port Orange, on Saturday, March 10 at 8 a.m.
