Waynedale twins Jackson and Jaydon Varner carry on family running legacy

For Waynedale High School senior twins Jackson and Jaydon Varner, running literally runs in the family.

Their parents competed in cross country and track at Malone University. Their mom Julie Varner was a collegiate All-American.

Their older brother JJ also ran for Waynedale and then for Cedarville University.

Waynedale has made state as a team each of the past two years, finishing sixth last season. Jackson Varner qualified for state individually as a freshman, finishing 48th. He earned All-Ohio honors the past two years.

Last year he beat JJ's school record, and this season he's gotten even faster. He ran a personal-record time of 15:39 at Malone a few weeks ago, even without competition.

“I was all by myself,” Jackson Varner said.

One of Jaydon Varner's goals this year is to become an All-Ohioan. His PR of 16:13 was set at Wooster this year.

“Jackson is a little faster; I'm a little slower. But I'm hoping to get down to where he was by the end of the season,” Jaydon Varner said.

They enjoy running with each other.

“It's cool to have an extra training partner," Jaydon Varner said. "In the winter it's nice to be able to run together."

“It's nice to just be able to do things together," Jackson Varner said. "We pretty much do all the same things together. We have the same likes, and we usually get along pretty good.”

This year the Ohio High School Athletic Association changed the divisions. Waynedale is in Division III.

“We are so close to being Div. IV,” Jaydon Varner said.

Only one of Waynedale's top runners graduated last year.

“I think we'll make it to state, but we're at the bottom of Div. III, only by nine guys,” coach Shauna Pittman said. “Orrville and Norwayne are in our district. Orrville used to be Div. II but moved down to Div. III. It just sort of moved things around.

“My boys are super-competitive, and they want to go back to state. We were sixth last year at state, and we were hoping to go for runner-up before they changed the districts around, so now our goal is to get to state again. Hopefully, we can keep everyone healthy and injury-free."

The twins hope to return to state as a team.

“It's definitely more fun with the team," Jaydon Varner said. "In his freshman year, I went with him to the hotel, but I don't know. It didn't feel the same. It was just different. And then with the team, it kind of helps take the nerves away."

Jackson Varner said that when he went as a freshman, it was a little scary.

“It was a new experience, and I didn't really know what to expect, but then we've made it the past years, so now it's just fun,” Jackson Varner said.

The twins started running when they were in about second grade, doing kid races at their older brother's meets or 1-mile road races.

They go to bed around 9:30 p.m. every night, and their mom makes them food at home that they pack for lunch the next day.

They know running needs to be well-rounded.

“Staying consistent, running every day and giving your body the time it needs to recover, getting good sleep,” Jackson Varner said.

“If you want to get maybe a little bit better, run over the summer,” Jaydon Varner said. “That helps a lot more than what people probably think.”

Pittman has known the Varner boys since they were in kindergarten. Her daughter Anna Pittman also runs cross country at Waynedale and is a senior this year.

Julie Varner, the middle school cross country coach, helps with workouts.

“They do great coaching us,” Jaydon Varner said.

“We couldn't ask for anyone better,” Jackson Varner said.

The brothers hope to run for Cedarville next year for cross country and track.

“I say I have the best kids in our whole school," Pittman said. "I may be a little biased, but I think they're great."