Many runners have to wait until they step into the blocks to see who they will be competing against. For the Lloyd twins, their competition has always been each other.
Freshmen Ja’Shaun and Ty’Shaun Lloyd, two highly recruited athletes in the track world, have provided Texas State Track and Field with a jolt of contagious energy. The electric duo have used their lifelong bond to bring attention to the Bobcats by scoring points and breaking records.
Bobcats assistant coach Aries Merritt, who won an Olympic gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles in 2012, said that the twins have already made their presence felt.
“The Twins don’t let anything faze them; they buckle down and get the job done,” Merritt said. “They’re really hungry for success; their presence alone has garnered eyes to Texas State track and field.”
Ja’Shaun Lloyd, the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Freshman of the Year, specializes in the 110-meter hurdles. Ja’Shaun says that Texas State checked all the boxes for him when he was deciding which school he would compete for and that Merritt made him feel at home.
“I knew right away [Merritt] was one of those people who was going to make sure we were taken care of,” Ja’Shaun said. “It was a welcoming feeling.”
For Ty’Shaun Lloyd, a talented sprinter who earned a Third Team All-Sun Belt Indoor accolade, it was unknown if he would ever compete collegiately.
“I never planned on running in college. I was going to go to school for academics, but it was a last-minute switch,” Ty’Shaun said. “Texas State drew my attention and kept me close to my family.”
Their freshmen seasons have shown how impactful they can be and glimpses of how much farther they can go.
Ja’Shaun recorded seven top-three finishes, including three victories during the indoor season. He also set a new program record in the indoor 60-meters with a time of 6.62 seconds, and scored the most points since 2011 at the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships with 29.5 total points.
Ty’Shaun, who dealt with an injury early in the season, has since come back and been a pivotal piece of the Bobcats sprinting squad, participating in relay races such as the 4×100 and the 4×400 events, and recording three top-10 finishes.
Despite their different approaches, both twins have their eyes set on continuously improving as the outdoor season continues.
For Ja’Shaun, the next step is making new history far beyond the Sun Belt.
“I want to break the world record in the 110-hurdles,” Ja’Shaun said. “That’s been a goal of mine; the coaches have me on the right track, so I’m on pace to do it.”
Ty’Shaun’s mindset is different, yet just as driven. He allows his progression to speak for itself rather than attaching a set number to it.
“I try not to get so fixated on goals; there is no need to put extra pressure on yourself with a specific number when you don’t even know if you can run past that number,” Ty’Shaun said. “As long as I run fast, I’ll end up where I want to be.”
As their young careers continue to unfold, the Lloyd twins continue to raise the standard. The competition that once existed between the two of them now elevates an entire program as evidenced by the men’s team ranking top 35 in the nation all outdoor season.
The twins impact to the squad bodes well for the Pac-12 bound Bobcats who may be entering one of their most competitive eras yet, especially as Ja’Shaun prepares to compete for a championship.
He, along with seven others with Texas State Track and Field, qualified to compete in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. from June 10-13 after their performances in the NCAA West First Round this past weekend in Fayetteville, Ark.
