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Speed Queens

Peoria teen sisters are racing toward success on the track and off

A A A Comments By Paul Rubin Thursday, Mar 11 2004

Sabestine Onyepunuka says he doesn't want to think about all that just yet, and would much rather have Jessica continue to work hard and stay focused on the present.

"We'll cross that bridge when we have to, but we don't have to yet," he says.

Jackie Mercandetti

Judith and Jessica Onyepunuka

Jackie Mercandetti

Judith Onyepunuka (top left) and her older sister Jessica (bottom left) have been dominating the Arizona track world for years.

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That said, Jessica is aware that summer isn't that far off. "I'm just so sketchy about it," she says. "Maybe I'm a little bit scared of failure if I go the big route."

Judith already knows where she's going this summer -- to the National Junior Olympics in Oregon, with an eye on earning a spot in July 2005's World Youth Championships, to be held in Morocco.

Before then, however, the sisters will try to help Peoria High defend its state championship in May. Jessica easily won the 100- and 200-meter races at the season's first big outdoor meet last Saturday at Tolleson High. (Judith sat out the meet, still recovering from her bad hamstring and a touch of the flu.)

This weekend, the Onyepunukas will be testing themselves against national competition at the Nike Indoor Championships in Landover, Maryland, the nation's premier indoor meet for high schoolers.

Both girls are keenly aware that this high school season may mark the last time they compete together. Separately, both girls have a difficult time discussing that possibility.

"I try not to think about it," Judith says, looking off into the distance, "or I tell myself it's way down the road, even though I know it's not."

Jessica expresses that same emotion in her own way: "Remember Michael Jordan saying last year that every game was more meaningful because he was retiring. I'm not retiring, but it's the same for me. I look at my sister out there on the track carrying on, giving me or my dad or somebody else a hard time, then laughing and laughing. I want to enjoy every last second of this."

E-mail paul.rubin@newtimes.com, or call 602-229-8433.