If you spend just a few minutes around seniors Bria’una Watley and Shantae Young, you realize they are more than just teammates on the track and field team.  They are two peas in a pod.    

Although Watley is a sprinter and Young competes in the triple jump, the drive to out-compete one another is alive and well as they try and push each other to their limits. 

For Watley, her limits were pushed early. As a freshman she was forced to use a medical red card.  

 “I admire (Watley’s) perseverance,” assistant track and field coach Ellannee Richardson said. “We have battled injury in her first few years as an athlete, but she is always very determined to work herself back.”

 This year, there’s improved chemistry and interaction among teammates. Everyone on the team is for the team, Young said.

“They’re a lot more pleasant to be around and we’ll all be rooting for each other, so mentally it makes you want to do better,” Young said.  “You want to do better because you want to help your team out and I feel like it’s also helping me in my performance.” 

As teammates it’s easy to relate to the struggles and triumphs at both practices and meets, but as roommates, they relate to one another more than any other roommates or teammates, Watley said.

 “We can come to each other when we’re having a hard time or whenever we need to sit down and just talk about something track related,” Young said. 

Their bond initiated in the residence halls during their freshman year, but their connection wasn’t instant. They didn’t necessarily have a common interest—they were just teammates. However, it all just fell into place, Young said.

Now seniors, they’ve rejoined again under the same roof. Their friendship is constantly evolving, and now they often find themselves finishing one another’s sentences.  Watley refers to Young as “Miss Beyonce,” funny and talkative, while Young said Watley is similarly sassy, constantly laughing, and has a great attitude. Young also shared Beyonce’s passion for dance, Watley said.

“She was very outgoing when I met her, and she liked to dance a lot, she was always dancing,” Watley said. 

Coming from sunny Southern California, Watley struggled adapting to the culture of WSU. She was often homesick, prompting her to keep her guard up.  

 “(Young) would help me always to not be quiet and invited me to her room just to hangout and not be home sick,” Watley said. “I appreciate her for always being there for me.”

With the support of Young on her side, Watley said she never gave up, and she’s since grown to become even stronger. Young said even if Watley isn’t one of the fastest runners in the Pac-12 conference, she knows her friend has the potential to get there.

“She’s determined to show what she’s made of because she hasn’t really gotten the chance to,” Young said. 

This season Watley received that golden opportunity to show she’s a force in the Pac-12. 

“My goal for the 200 is to at least run a 20.39 (seconds), if I can reach that, and for the 400 a 54.90 (seconds),” Watley said.  “I haven’t been doing good these past couple years, so now I’m actually competing and doing good.” 

Watley is working very hard every day, is making significant progress mentally and physically in track this year, and has multiple indoor and outdoor lifetime bests to show for it, Richardson said.  

“I see a new fire in her eyes this year,” Richardson said. “Every week she goes to the line and does something more impressive than the week before.” 

Watley and young believe they have a competitive advantage over other athletes on the WSU track team because of their off-the-track camaraderie.

“Everyone needs a friend that they’re close, and going to track practice I don’t feel like I’m alone or an outcast,” Young said. “I always have someone I can talk to at track.”

“It’s always good to have that one friend,” Watley said. “You may have other friends on the team, but it’s always good to have that one friend that you can always talk to, go home to, and share your stories with.” 

Since the weather is often too cold in Pullman to host outdoor meets until late April, the Cougars are constantly traveling to warmer climates in California and Arizona to compete. While on the road, Young and Watley are always spending time together, either eating or just relaxing in the hotels. But when it’s time to compete, they are all business. 

“Going into a meet I’m more quiet and serious, and you just have that mindset that I want to do good, I have to do good, I need to do good, and if I don’t I won’t be able to go places,” Watley said. 

The chemistry between Young and Watley is like Peanut butter and jelly. Salt and pepper. Chips and dip. Whether it’s making Wal-Mart trips together, cooking for one another, or competing on the field, it’s a friendship that has seen its limits, but remains inseparable.