Needham High School in Massachusetts currently lays claim to the best girls middle-distance duo in the nation: seniors Margie Cullen and Sarah Armstrong, who placed third and fifth, respectively, at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Junior Women's Mile with times of 4:50.15 and 4:51.41. They now rank No. 6 and No. 8 in the nation.
That mile race came just four days after the MIAA Division II Championships, where they set a combined three meet records: Cullen in the Mile (4:51.14) and Two Mile (10:44.00) and Armstrong in the 1K (2:53.63).
During a "Who's On First"-esque post-race interview with Stephen Infascelli of MileSplit Mass, it became clear that their nearly matched speed isn't the only uncanny thing about this duo...
Steve Infascelli: We had two major champions... we have Miss Armstrong and Miss Cullen and we had some major record-breaking performances today at the Division II Championships. Let's start with today in the Mile - 4:51! Miss Cullen, you were absolutely blazing. [To Sarah Armstrong] What was it like to run that time?
Margie: Actually, I'm Cullen, I'm Margie.
Steve: I knew that. So how was it, running the mile?
Margie: It was good, it was a last-minute decision to put me in the mile, too, so I was trying not to run as hard as I could for the two mile. It ended up going out pretty fast and I had to really sprint at the end.
Steve: And you also set a record in the thousand, which is incredible.
Sarah Armstrong: Uhm, I'm Armstrong, I ran the thousand.
Steve: You're... ok... so what you girls need to do... You both look so alike. Can one of you wear a ribbon next week?
Sarah: We could try to arrange it, color-code things.
Steve: I'm so far up there [in the press box], I can't see anything. Let's talk about that two mile. So you ran...
Margie: No, that's me again, sorry.
Steve: Wait, which one are you?
Sarah: I'm Armstrong.
Steve: You won the mile.
Sarah: The thousand.
Steve: You're... MileSplit Mass here with two champions. Raise that trophy up high. Gettin' it done.
By this past weekend, Infascelli figured out who was who. But that's not as hard to do when both athletes race one event:
Editor's Note, 2/16: We talked to Steve and he says the interview was staged. He did incorrectly identify the girls during their races from the crow's nest press box but did the interview with the girls -- whom he knows well from meet coverage -- as a joke after the fact. Nice acting job, ladies (and Steve)!
Watch all three record-breaking runs at the MIAA DII Championships here
2016 MIAA DII Championships results and coverage
2016 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix results and coverage