There is a saying that twins do everything together. Well, a pair of track and field athletes are proving that adage true.

Junior twin sisters Andreanna and Alexandra Rowe are in their second year with the program after transferring in from Tennessee State University. Alexandra runs the 60 meters, 100 meters and 200 meters as well as competing on the 4×400 relay team. Andreanna runs the 400 meters and the 800 meters and also compete in the 4×400.

Andreanna said there was one main reason why NIU was the best place for her and her sister to transfer into.

“It was like one of our schools we wanted to go to, and it just felt like meeting with coach [Connie] Teaberry that it was the right place to be,” Andreanna said. “She seemed like she knew what she was doing and was going to be very helpful and determined in helping us [in] reaching our goals track-wise.”

Andreanna said given that she and her sister are twins competing with each other on the Division I level was something they had thought about before.

“We just figured that, I mean, I was looking more into like a basketball scholarship and then she was more into track… so then it became a thing [we could do] together,” Andreanna said. “So we just kind of pretty much decided we’d go to school together.”

Alexandra said it is nice to have a family member so close by.

“I love it because I don’t feel like I’m alone,” Alexandra said. “So it’s kinda like we have each other to kinda like pick each other up when we’re down.”

Teaberry said the Rowe twins have brought their hardworking attitude to the track since arriving on campus.

“The Rowe sisters are two very sound, hardworking young ladies,” Teaberry said. “To have them on the team, they set a great example of how to be student athletes. They encompass both of those. They want to be great and do great things academically and athletically and that’s exactly what the team needed the last two years.”

Teaberry said that as their careers continue at NIU, the Rowe sisters just need to continue to push themselves.

“They just need to continue believing in themselves and keep their work ethic up,” Teaberry said. “They work really hard and they have for the last two years to become better and get their times down.”