They say good things come in three's. Take the Goins for example. Olivia, Austin, and Rianna. Triplets. All three with a passion for running and members of the Canyon High School cross country and track and field teams.
Their father was a soccer player in high school, their mother a flag twirler. Dad dabbled in the sprints, but soon found out the longer mileage wasn't for him. The athletic genes were promising for the three youngsters, but it was soccer that was their first love. Austin played until his freshman year as did Rianna. Olivia says she wasn't good at many sports, but was able to find her niche in running.
"I knew that I wanted to be on a team in high school so I tried out for the cross country team hoping to make it. I ended up shocking and surprising myself and my family with my accomplishments my first year and the years following."
Olivia's success her freshman year of cross country opened up her siblings eyes to the sport. Austin and Rianna began to take notice. The two decided to participate in track their freshman year. Rianna started off as a quarter-miler and clocked a 58.20 in her first season. Both enjoyed running so much they continued onto cross country.
For a short time Austin, was living in his sisters' shadow. When all three started running track in the 9th grade, they all ran in the mid 2:20's for 800 meters. Austin was the slowest of the bunch at 2:26. Both Olivia and Rianna had been putting up faster times not just in the half lapper, but the mile and greater distances. He says it was embarrassing, but something that drove him to work harder.
"People would make fun of me, especially when they would compare times and see that they were faster than me. My sisters were nice about it and I could tell they felt bad. There's nothing I like more then to surprise people with my performances. Once I broke away from my sisters people found it as a shock. I like proving people wrong so that's what drove me to do better."
Running has been the highlight of their high school days. Olivia reminisces about the friendships she has made and great accolades she has accomplished. She has posted impressive times of 5:00 in the 1600 meter run and 10:56 in the 3200 meter run as a junior and was named All-County in cross country. Consistency is also a word to classify the youngster. She has qualified for the Cross Country Championships three times. If that wasn't enough she holds the Century League Championships course record in cross country at 17:09 for three miles.
Olivia's biggest training partner is her sister Rianna. She says she loves training with her sister because they push each other to make each other stronger. When it comes time to racing they have a healthy competition, working together, to perform to their full potential. Rianna hasn't let the family name down. She has run 5:07 in the 1600 meter run and 2:18 in the 800 meter run as a junior. She finished second at the prestigious Clovis Invitational with a very fast 18:15 time on the 5,000 meter course at Woodward Park. She is number three All-Time in the Century League with a 17:17 three mile posting at the 2012 championships.
Austin has high praise for his sisters and they reciprocate those same feelings toward him. He says during races they will yell words of encouragement. Rianna has seen both her brother and sister grow over the past three years and says it's been great.
"I have seen him become an elite runner and as his sister I feel very proud. Also, Olivia who was never good at any sport has become a phenomenal runner as well. We each have grown into becoming leaders and overall stronger people."
No longer, does the lone male in the group Austin have to boast about his sisters running new personal bests. Once the laughing stock of the group, he is now setting his own personal bests and making a name for himself. This year he was fourth at the California State Cross Country Championships in Division 2 and eighth overall in the state. He earned All-League, All-County, All-CIF and All-State honors. He was number three All-Time at the Century League Championships on a course that has been run for over 30 years and now holds every course record for Canyon High School.
The triplets have a strong bond and say the sport has brought their family closer together due to all the time and support spent into making everything happen. Olivia says that her parents make it to every meet possible and are the loudest fans out there.
"I'm extremely grateful for my parents because they made all of this possible, with all the expenses, especially times three. I know it was hard, but I know that we make them proud when we are out on the race course doing what we love. "
Austin dedicates every race he runs to someone different and the two biggest races of the year the CIF Finals and State Championship he says were for his parents.
"I raced those two races for the most important people in my life, my parents. It makes me so happy to see my parents faces after races because I can see how proud they are and that drives me to do that every single race."
Rianna adds that this sport is what makes her family. The bond that the triplets have strengthened through running is one that can't be duplicated. They are always together and supporting each other. That continues when they get home spending time with friends and hanging out. Rianna says it's always good to have someone right by your side who you know will never leave you. As their high school careers come winding down, does that mean they all want to run together in college? Olivia believes it is possible.
"Rianna and I are looking at colleges together and are planning on sticking together throughout our college experience. "
As for Austin, he says if he happens to go to the same college as his sisters it would be another great adventure.
"I will let running take me anywhere though because it has got me this far. The decision I made to quit soccer and do cross country and track was risky, but I thank God everyday for that risk I took."
Rianna knows that no matter what happen this story will have a happy ending.
"If we were all to stick together I think that would be great but we all have dreams to do big things in college. Wherever we decide to go I think that we will still share a bond that no one can replace."