For Beau and Cali Kerschen, competing together on the Wichita State track and field team has never been a solo journey. 

It’s been one they’ve shared side by side as twins, teammates and each other’s constant support system.

“We’ve done a lot of stuff together,” Beau said. “Especially our freshman year, when things were unfamiliar and we didn’t know a lot of people, our schedule worked out to where we could … do a lot of stuff.

“We always had each other to rely on.”

Cali described the relationship with her brother as tight knit, even though they don’t get to see each other a lot now because of their events. Cali is a hurdler, while Beau competes in throwing events.

“I think it’s really rewarding,” Cali said. “Back at home, people think it’s really awesome, having family ties here. We really enjoy it.”

The twins are so close that, during their freshman year, Beau and Cali’s constant togetherness sparked an unexpected rumor among their teammates that they were dating.

“I guess we hadn’t had the opportunity to introduce ourselves fully to the team, like ‘Hey, we’re siblings, we’re not dating,’” Beau said. “It wasn’t until Cali came home and said, ‘Hey, these people said that we’re dating.’”

Cali, with a laugh, said she remembers it vividly. 

“We would go everywhere together,” Cali said. “After a while, I heard like, ‘You guys aren’t dating? You guys are twins. I never saw that coming.’ 

“I was like, ‘That’s so embarrassing, I promise I’m single.’”

Cali was the first twin the Shockers recruited when the sibling duo attended nearby Andale High School. After she went on a visit, she was able to get Beau an interview with WSU’s coaches. 

“I really wanted to go here, and he didn’t know at first where he wanted to go,” Cali said. “After I showed my interest in it, he came on, and they had a spot for him. 

“I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this is great.’ We’ve been together like forever (and) we’ve never been away from each other. I was overjoyed to hear that he would be with me for another four years.”

Beau said he originally didn’t expect to compete in college. But the gentle nudge from his sister was all it took.

“I never really expected it,” Beau said. “So when she came on her visit, I asked her to get me a spot in with the throws coach. I came in and talked to him (and) had a great conversation.”

At the time of the meeting with throwing coach John Hetzendorf, there was no room on the roster for Beau. But once an athlete left the program, a spot opened for him to join the team.

“I just told him, ‘Hey, if something changes, I can let you know,’” Hetzendorf said. “That was in the summer before he enrolled, and then I think it was the first couple weeks of school, I think we had an athlete just decide that they weren’t going to continue.

“We had some space open up, and I called Beau and let him know if he was still interested, we would love to have him on the team.”

Since then, Beau has been named to the American Conference All-Academic Team three times and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll six times. In his time with the Shockers, he’s had two first-place finishes in the hammer throw. 

But for Beau, the most rewarding part hasn’t come from the accolades. It’s come from the many connections he’s made alongside his sister.

“I would definitely say just getting to meet new people and make new friends (has been rewarding),” he said. “We had to branch out and meet new people on the team.” 

Cali, on the other hand, has left her mark, too. She has been named to the conference’s All-Academic Team three times and the AD Honor Roll six times. At the 2025 Shocker Open, Cali capped off her season with a personal best time in the 100-meter hurdles at 14 seconds. 

“She’s … an incredibly dedicated academic student,” WSU hurdles coach John Wise said. “This semester, she had to come late to practice because of clinicals that she’s doing, and so she’s always rushing in in her clinical garb, and then she hops right into practice and gets going, which is a difficult thing to do, especially at this level. 

“She’s the girl you always know is going to do anything you asked her to.”

As their college careers come to an end, the twins are gearing up for their lives outside of Shocker track and field. 

Cali plans to stay in Wichita and pursue a career as a medical lab scientist, while also hoping to coach hurdles at her high school alma mater.

Beau also plans to stay connected to his roots. 

“I’m hoping to be a part-time high school math teacher (at Andale),” Beau said. “I’m going to be working with that on the farm. Both my parents are farmers, so I’m going to be balancing that. I’m also going to be coaching football in the fall and track and field in the spring for Andale, as well.”