Jason and Kaitlin McCallum are two highly-motivated Point Loma teenagers. In their spare time, the siblings who attended La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) together, can be found going for long bike rides, running for miles or even rock climbing. Jason is the older brother, having recently finished up his senior year at LJCD while Kaitlin expects to continue making her mark at the school as a sophomore. Jason has been running track since second grade when a coach noticed his natural speed and suggested he sign him up for a club team. At that time, Kaitlin was still too young to officially join the squad. But since she had to tag along to Jason’s practice anyway, the coaches let her join in. The siblings have been training and competing ever since. These days, the siblings’ hard work and dedication has been paying off. On the track this spring, Jason set school records in the 400-meter relay and the pole vault, while matching the long-jump mark. He also boasted an excellent GPA. His grades and athletic prowess have earned his way into Middlebury College, a school in Vermont considered one of the finest institutions in the Northeast. “I wanted to go to the best academic school possible,” Jason said, adding that getting a chance to continue his athletic career was a bonus. Jason also played lacrosse at LJCD this spring, leading his team to a conference championship. It took understanding coaches and a vigorous physical regime to get through both seasons. “You figure out when you really need to exert 100 percent and when you can just let it roll,” he said. Jason has decided to run track at Middlebury in the fall, although he could always return to lacrosse in the future if he wants to — one of the perks of going to a smaller school. While Jason has been blazing the path for years, Kaitlin has quietly been stepping out of the shadow and into the spotlight. A two-sport star at LJCD in her own right (she, too, played lacrosse) Kaitlin this year accomplished something her brother never has — she made it to the state track and field championships as a pole vaulter. “It was definitely a good experience to go and see all the girls who are older and are jumping so much higher,” she said. “It was really cool to be out there.” Only a sophomore this year, Kaitlin already holds the LJCD girls’ pole-vault record. Her accomplishments have gotten the attention of several Division I college schools, including the University of Oregon, a perennial track powerhouse. While it’s difficult to judge the better athlete between the siblings, a healthy rivalry has unquestionably emerged. Being the younger sibling, Kaitlin has always been motivated by her brother’s success, but Jason modestly concedes his little sister has him beaten in certain areas. “She’s definitely a better student than I am and I have no problem admitting that,” Jason chuckled. “She’s catching up with me athletically, so I’ve got to watch out.”