Freedom Track is a Family Affair for Tedesco Sisters

Freedom High School was only built in 2001. Its track and field program is even younger. However, current coach Dwight Smith and his predecessor, Chris McCombs, have built a foundation that brings in some of the county's top runners.

"Chris really put us on the map his first two years as head coach," said Smith. "Freedom attracted runners because of him."

Smith was not only blessed with a great coach before him, he landed the Tedesco family. And when you consider that family contributes four solid freshman and sophomore distance runners, it's a pretty big deal.

"It feels great to have such an influx of young talent to this already talented team," said Smith.

Smith already commands a very strong girls track team as well as a cross country team that . The girls track team placed third at the Charles Johnson Invitaional back in Feb. 25, in a field of 19 Hillsborough County teams.

However, the Tedesco family triplets — Emily, Gabriella, and Kristina (just freshmen) — and older sister, Annie (sophomore) should provide a strong foundation for the future of Freedom track and cross country.

"By 2014, maybe even 2013, I'm going to have a 4x8 relay team that's all Tedescos," said Smith. "They should be pretty good."

They should be very good.

Both Annie and Emily ran at cross country states. Kristina and Gabriella were on the JV team. Freedom's girls 4x800m relay team is already solid. They took first place at the Charles Johnson, and Smith thinks they have a good shot at making the medal stand at states. Annie anchors that team.

The Tedesco family is from New York and the girls' grandparents were in town for the Nash Higgins Relays.

"I put all four of them in the 4x8 and they broke the school record," Smith said.

Mornings have to be crazy for dad, Jim, living with five women. "Luckily we have plenty of bathrooms," said the elder Tedesco.

Jim is a principal owner of Kona Multisport, a sports equipment and apparel store in New Tampa. He remembers taking all four of them in a running stroller, as infants.

"We've been running since they were babies," he said.

The dynamic of family outings is unique for the Tedescos. "We catch a lot of stares when we all go out together," said Annie.

What is it like living with three sisters?

"It depends on what day it is," said Annie.

"Sometimes it's great," said Emily.

"We fight a lot," said Gabriella.

"But we're really close," said Kristina.

Annie is the oldest but only by a year. Emily is the second oldest but only four minutes older than Gabriella, who is only five minutes older than Kristina.

"Sometimes I feel like the fourth quadruplet, sometimes I feel like the older sister," said Annie.

"Yeah, like when she tells us what to do," said Emily.

Regardless of who is telling whom what to do, these four sisters should provide a backbone for Freedom track and cross country for the next few years.