Running suits Grayslake Central's Aho triplets just fine
It's tempting for new parents to want to dress babies that are multiples the same.
But Julie and Scott Aho rarely did that with their triplets: Jack, Matt and Elizabeth.
"When we were really little, maybe we'd have the same shirt, but it would be in different colors," Jack Aho said. "That's about it. We didn't really wear the exact same clothes."
Now, as teenagers, the Aho triplets, who just turned 18 in March, end up in similar outfits all the time.
Runner's gear.
Whether it's their team uniforms or workout clothes for an early morning Saturday run, the Ahos can often be found wearing clothes that are comfortable to run in. All three are distance-running stars at Grayslake Central, and all three are good enough that they will be running in college next year.
The Aho family might as well be the first family of distance running in Lake County.
Jack Aho is a two-time state champion in cross country and a multiple school record holder who will be running at the University of Michigan next year. Matt Aho is a state runner up in cross country who will be running at Bradley next year. And Elizabeth Aho is one of the leaders of an emerging girls team at Grayslake Central and is on her way to run at Drake next year.
"It's a little surprising that it turned out like this," Matt Aho said. "Our parents weren't runners. We were all into other sports as kids. If you had told me my freshman year that all three of us would be running in college someday, I probably wouldn't have believed it. All three of us were doing different sports even at the start of high school. Elizabeth was also doing theatre.
"But we all tried running and we all liked it a lot. And we're all pretty good at it."
The Aho triplets started out being pretty good at soccer. All three played club.
"We all did a lot of sports, but soccer was the one we really loved," Elizabeth Aho said.
By sophomore year at Grayslake Central, all three triplets were doing track or cross country, but mostly as a way to stay in shape for soccer.
Funny thing was, all three started liking track and cross country. A lot.
And they discovered that their tall, lanky bodies (Jack is 6-foot-3, Matt is 6-foot-2 and Elizabeth is 5-foot-9), made them pretty good runners.
"Because we love running so much, every single race means so much to us," Elizabeth said. "We are just really motivated to do our best every time."
Elizabeth Aho has helped the girls cross country team place in the Top 10 statewide each of the last two years: ninth in 2015 and fifth last fall.
The Aho boys have led the boys cross country team at Grayslake Central to significant success over the last two years. Last fall, the Rams placed second in the Class 2A meet and in 2015 when they were juniors, the Rams won the Class 2A state championship.
Both years, Jack Aho won the individual state championship, this fall running a personal best 14:11 over the 3-mile course. Matt Aho, meanwhile, finished just behind his brother and took second place with a 14:27.
"For us to go 1-2 in the state meet was just so amazing," Matt Aho said. "We've been talking for a long time about how cool it would be to do that. For it to actually happen meant so much to us. Words can't describe it."
Jack Aho has also placed second in the state track meet with a 9:11 in the 3200 meter run. He holds three records at Grayslake Central: 1600 meters (4:07), 3200 meters (9:00) and the cross country record (14:11).
"There's nothing quite like running," Jack Aho said. "I've really gotten to love the process of getting in shape and how it doesn't happen overnight. You have to be patient and dedicated to the process. And when you get there and you go out and run a good race and you've got that runner's high when you're done, it's such an adrenaline rush."
The Aho brothers get the adrenaline pumping just racing against each other. They have been good competition for each other.
"But it's been a friendly rivalry," Matt Aho said.
In fact, the triplets are all good friends, all close, and supportive of each other. They've been like that their whole lives.
"There are a lot of pros, and not very many cons to being a triplet," Elizabeth Aho said. "You always have people there for you. And because we're the same age, we're always probably going to have more in common than most siblings. It gives us a bond most siblings don't have."
pbabcock@dailyherald.com
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