Feature on Parks’ brothers

Finding someone to talk and with whom to share a common bond may be difficult for many people, but not for SIUC cross country twins Joseph and Jeremy Parks.

The juniors in elementary education from Eldorado said they are very close and are always able to talk to each other to help each other out.

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We are really pretty close, closer than most brothers, Jeremy Parks said. He’s probably my best friend.

Joseph Parks said they feel the closest when they are running together.

We are always close, but when we’re running we’re the closest, Joseph Parks said. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so we always try to help each other out.

The twins began their running career’s in the sixth grade, when they tried out for the junior high team in Eldorado.

We went out for the team in sixth grade and found out it was something we were good at, Jeremy said. We’ve just stuck with it since then.

Joseph finished in the top-two spots in both cross country meets this season. He finished second at the Sept. 6 meet in Carbondale the University of Kansas and Lindenwood College with a time of 24:54.9 to lead the team to victory, and he set a course record Saturday with a time of 24:42.42 at the Eastern Illinois Invitational, where the Salukis finished second.

After setting the record, Joseph was named Missouri Valley Conference Athlete of the Week Monday for the second time this year.

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Meanwhile, Jeremy has been right behind Joseph this season with a fourth-place finish Sept. 6 with a time of 25:18.4 and a sixth-place finish at EIU Saturday with a time of 25:11.44.

Saluki coach Bill Cornell said Jeremy has been running well lately, trying to catch up with his brother.

Joe’s been running well, and Jeremy doesn’t like getting beat, so he’s been moving up and working hard all week, Cornell said.

In high school, the twins took turns winning races their senior year, as they successfully finished No. 1 and No. 2 in 17 consecutive meets.

We help each other out when we’re running, Jeremy said. If nobody is there to push us, we push each other.

Cornell said the Parks brothers still push each other in the college race like they did in high school.

They stay together for about the first three miles, and whichever one of them is feeling better usually takes it, Cornell said.

Joseph said the twins have set goals each year to help them keep improving their times and conference finishes.

We want to win conference and go to nationals, Joseph said. We would also like to make All-American and get our name in the record books here.

Cornell said Jeremy and Joseph have a legitimate shot at reaching the record books before they leave SIUC.

They set higher goals for each other every year, and they have been successful, Cornell said. They want to see their names in the school record books before they leave, and they are very capable of doing that if they keep working hard.

Sophomore teammate Eric Rushing said the twins do have a several differences, but they are very hard to tell. However, when Joseph and Jeremy are running together, Rushing sees few differences.

They are very much alike, especially when they are running, Rushing said. The way they lead the team with their attitude and vocal leadership are a lot alike.

After graduation, the Parks brothers would like to pursue a career in teaching at the grade school level, while coaching cross country and track and field.

Jeremy said he does not know if they will stay together after graduation.

We will have to see what job opportunities we receive, Jeremy said. If we could work close together it would be fine, but if not, we can handle it.

The Parks twins and the rest of the Salukis will be in action Saturday as the team travels to Bloomington, Ind. for the Indiana Invitational.