In terms of raw athletic talent and potential, Oxford head track and field coach, Irene DeJager likens twin sisters Katie and Emily Woodford to Mike Chrystie.

Yes, the same Mike Chrystie who brought home New York State public high school and federation state titles less than a decade ago – in his one and only season competing in track and field.

The Woodford sisters, unlike Chrystie, will have the advantage of four years of varsity track. Just sophomores in their second varsity season for the Blackhawks, school records, league records, and meet records seem to fall nearly every time they step on the track.

Just a week ago at Norwich’s 4th Annual REK Friends Forever Invitational, every event in which the Woodfords competed, a meet record was broken.

Emily won the 200-meter dash, Katie the 400-meter dash, and the sisters provided the final two legs on three record-breaking relays.

“Those girls were just phenomenal,” said Norwich co-head coach Paul Sims. “In our division, we have the best sprinters. I would say (the Woodfords) are the best female sprinters in Section IV. If they’re not the best, they’re right near the top.”

In spite of Sims’ lofty praise, not a lot of people outside of Chenango County and the Midstate Athletic Conference have taken notice of the Woodfords. Today, however, the soft-spoken twins are taking center stage as our Evening Sun/Smith Ford LLC Athletes of the Week.