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The Coutts sisters: the 15-year-old twins who are dominating cross-country

The Coutts sisters are 15-year-old twins who are killing the cross-country game. After a third and fifth place finish at OFSAA, these girls are ready for ACXC

Sophie and Chloe Coutts are 15 year-old twin sisters who love running. The Coutts sisters attend Leaside High School in Toronto and are dominating this cross-country season. Sophie was third and Chloe was fifth at OFSAA this year in the junior race. Sophie followed up her OFSAA medal with a win at the Athletics Ontario Championships two weeks later. Both sisters are racing at Fort Henry tomorrow in the U18 race at the Athletics Canada Cross-Country Championships

Pictured: Chloe Coutts

The sisters started running when they joined the cross-country team at school in grade two and got more serious about the sport in grade six. They now run together at Central Toronto Athletic Club. Running isn’t their only sport–both girls are downhill skiers at Osler Bluff Ski Club, but they say that this winter will be their last winter of skiing. 

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When the girls were choosing the events that they would run, their coach recommended that they split up so that they weren’t always competing against each other. Sophie said, “We don’t really like racing each other, we get kind of competitive. I like it when we’re on a team together, like in cross-country, but I don’t like competing against each other individually on the track.”

Pictured: Sophie Coutts

Sophie and Chloe will be a team this weekend. Their club is entered in the U18 division and they’re in a position to podium. “Our team has won the past two years but some of out best runners have moved up a division. Our goal as a team is the podium.”

Individually, the girls are aiming for a top 10 finish. Chloe is a self-proclaimed underdog. “I feel like a lot of people are expecting Sophie to be in the top five because she won AO’s, but they won’t expect me.”

PIctured: Sophie Coutts.

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The race plan is to work together from the gun. “We’ll work together at the front of the pack. That’s the best thing about running together, we know each other’s strengths and it gives us a good idea of pace. Racing with someone familiar makes it easier.”

The Coutts sisters are the daughters of Canadian musician Duncan Coutts of Our Lady Peace. When asked about what the girls like to listen to pre-race, they joke that their dad is the resident DJ. “We like older music, like Wonderwall by Oasis, or Mr. Brightside by the Killers. But our dad doesn’t like pop music. He always changes the station if it comes on.”

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