PREP NOTES

It’s unusual for a race walker to excel at running, but it’s more rare to have two race walkers who are identical twins compete well in both sports. Jennifer and Jeannie Formosa of Edison are two such athletes.

The freshmen were national-caliber age-group competitors in race walking in 1990, when they were 14. Last year at The Athletic Congress USA Junior Nationals, which included race walking competition in the 14-19 age group, Jennifer placed second and Jeannie third.

“It was scary,” Jeannie said. “We felt like real babies, especially since some of the walkers had college coaches.”

Despite their success at race walking, the twins have quit the sport to concentrate on running for Edison’s cross-country team.

Edison, with front-runner Shelley Taylor, who finished second in the Division II state meet last season, is the top-ranked team in Orange County and eighth in the nation. The Formosas figure prominently in that success, both among the team’s top five runners.

They said they gave up race walking because it isn’t offered in high school, and few colleges offer scholarships in the sport. They also say running is more fun.

“I’m surprised with the success they’ve found going from walking to running,” said Doug Speck of California Track and Running News, who compiles state-wide rankings. “Because, typically, walkers don’t immediately move into running with the level of the success they have had.”

Jennifer and Jeannie are the exceptions.