Sibling rivalry
When they are running the hurdles, Brandon and Dylan Hochbein are sworn enemies.
“I basically hate him when I'm on the track,” Brandon Hochbein said, cracking a smile. “As soon as we finish, though, we're brothers again.”
The seniors on the Freeport boys track and field team and twins are fierce competitors, even during practice.
Sometimes they are asked to take the foot off the gas in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles during training sessions, but that is not in their DNA.
They push each other. Make each other better. Stoke each other's competitive fire.
It has helped Dylan Hochbein break the school record in both the 110 and 300 hurdles with times of 14.6 seconds and 38.8 seconds respectively.
Brandon Hochbein is close behind in 300 at 39.4.
“I honestly have to say I'm very lucky to have him there to push me and make me better and make me the racer I am today,” Dylan said. “He pushes me every race, every practice. We make each other better as athletes and academically as well.
“I'm very lucky to have him in my life to make me the person I am today,” Dylan added. “Not just the athlete, but the person.”
Brandon has his sights set on his brother's 300 record.
He came close to breaking it in the WPIAL Class AA team playoffs Tuesday, beating his brother with a time of 39.7.
“A goal of mine is to get this 300 record. I've been busting my butt to get it and I can't get it,” Brandon said. “When (Dylan) got it at Burrell, we were neck and neck, and I stumbled over the last hurdle and he beat me by six feet.”
Freeport hurdle coach Linsey Westerman, a standout hurdler in her own right when she was running for the Freeport and Slippery Rock University women's track programs, said the Yellowjackets have a tremendous luxury having Brandon and Dylan constantly pushing each other every day.
“They are both dedicated and both mentally want it,” Westerman said. “I think that's the biggest thing — having that mental push.”Dylan isn't simply satisfied with school records.He has a bigger goal in mind at the end of this month at the PIAA Track and Field Championships in Shippensburg.“I definitely want to be at the top of that podium,” Dylan said. “I don't want to stop at the school records. I want to go to the next level and do well and perform at states. Yes, the record is awesome — I loved breaking that and it meant a lot — but doing well at states is more of a thing for me.”And for Brandon as well.Dylan was fifth and Brandon sixth in the 300 hurdles at the state meet last spring.Brandon wants to finish side-by-side with his brother again this year in Shippensburg.“I thought it was awesome to finish beside him last year,” Brandon said. “My goal definitely this year is for us to finish one and two.”Not necessarily in the same order.“I just want to beat him,” Brandon said, smiling again.
