Han Dynasty
Triple Threat on the Track
Writer Shannon Severson // Photography by Gina Brown — Capturing the Moments Photography
The crack of the starting gun pierces the air, signaling the start of another race for the Han triplet brothers. The first brother bursts from the starting blocks, baton in hand — his arms pumping, his feet pounding the track as he propels himself forward to reach the handoff, passing the baton in a process both fierce and delicate. Though the race may be over in a blink, the lifelong bond between Boulder Creek High School senior runners Chayce, Evan and Greyson Han will extend far beyond their final season.
Their coaches say the influence, hard work and success of the Han brothers have changed the culture of the cross-country and track teams.
“They’re all three accomplished runners, but that’s not the part that stands out,” says Thomas Clarke, Boulder Creek High School head cross-country coach. “They’re a positive influence for the team — their attitudes, the way they carry themselves — they push through setbacks, and the whole team responds.”
Zach Walling, the head track coach and assistant cross-country coach, agrees.
“They’ve helped change the culture of Boulder Creek cross country and track,” he explains. “When they graduate, the program will be better because of what they’ve done.”
In track and field, the fraternal Han brothers have established themselves as standout distance runners, with Chayce, Evan and Greyson excelling in the 1,600, 3,200 and 4×800 relay. Chayce and Greyson have posted top-five times in Jaguar history across multiple events. Each brother brings a unique strength — Chayce’s power, Greyson’s speed and Evan’s steady, workhorse reliability.
Running in the Family
Chayce, Evan and Greyson share both the DNA and discipline of their dedicated parents, Dr. Ken Han and Michelle Han, and they are quick to praise their parents, coaches and each other.
Ken, once a runner at Cornell University, began taking the boys on runs during the lull of the COVID-19 pandemic. They went on to join the Gavilan Peak School cross-country and track team in eighth grade.
“A lot of the high school cross-country and track team members would volunteer at our middle school meets, and now we all do this today,” Evan explains.
“Our middle school coaches helped us find a passion for running, and our high school coaches make sure we keep that passion,” Greyson adds.
The Hans constitute a large portion of the seven-member cross-country team and say their best memories are of a big invitational last season when Boulder Creek varsity won the 60-team meet for the first time and a big district meet win.
“It was senior night for the district, and we won just barely — by a couple of seconds — against Mountain Ridge High School,” Chayce recalls with a wide smile as his brothers join in the triumphant memory.
Despite Chayce and Greyson suffering injuries last season, all three boys are training at full force and are determined to contribute to another win this season. They prepare with daily runs around the Boulder Creek High School campus and Anthem trailheads. AZ Central recently named Chayce 18th of the top 25 cross-country “runners to watch,” and he’s motivated to beat even that promising prediction.
Clarke hopes to have the best boys’ cross-country team and best-ever finish at the state finals. His approach to training is dedication and attention to detail without burning out young runners. It’s a great match with Walling’s talent for analytical statistics and spreadsheets.
“The boys planted a flag to win state,” Clarke reveals. “They’re back in full force again. It will be a challenge this year. We want a three-peat for district cross-country championships. I want the athletes to become lifelong runners, and my big driver is for them to get something from running and to have it for life. We do something every day to move toward our goals.”
Walling, who is a twin himself and ran for BCHS in his high school days, agrees that specific, measured training and incremental improvement is a recipe for creating lifelong runners and notes that Jaguar runners tend to improve even more when they get to college. Former student and volunteer coach Jacob Lewis became a sub-4-minute miler in college, attending Grand Canyon University and the University of Tennessee.
“The Hans are champing at the bit for Jacob’s record and have gotten to run with him,” Walling says, noting that each of the brothers boasts a different strength, but all are top-tier runners.
Daily goals that lead to ultimate success are something the Han brothers embrace. All three say the discipline of running permeates every area of their lives and success.
Character in Motion
“Running is a really hard sport,” Chayce observes. “You can only find success if you apply it to all areas of your life. It’s not just what you do at practice. We apply that work ethic at school, in life and at church.”
While Chayce, Evan and Greyson don’t communicate in a special triplet language or telepathically, they acknowledge that being triplets has its advantages.
“Being a triplet is cool,” Evan says. “We hold each other accountable. When one of us goes to sleep, we all go. It’s a positive sibling rivalry. If Chayce isn’t getting an unhealthy meal, I’m going to do the same. We constantly see each other working hard and emulate that.”
Their proud parents have thrown their full support behind their sons, the team and the coaching staff. The Hans’ school involvement began with the triplets’ elder sister,Addison, who now attends University of Arizona but was similarly accomplished in athletics and academics at Boulder Creek.
Clarke and Walling say that Ken and Michelle will be missed just as much as the boys are after graduation.
“Ken is our biggest cheerleader at every single meet,” Walling says. “He screams, ‘You’re not hurting!’ and it motivates the athletes to keep going. We started to call him Coach Han. He is the first to cheer for every single person, and then he’s back at the team tent congratulating everyone. Michelle hosts pasta parties and is great at meeting with the other parents with advice and support. The Han parents have changed the team culture just as much as the boys have.”
Michelle treasures the opportunities she and her husband have had to welcome the team and families into their home and notes the coaches’ and Athletic Director Kirstin Ledin’s selflessness and dedication. The boys mirror that example in their day-to-day training regimen, and the results are clear.
“We are very proud,” Michelle says. “They’re very disciplined. You don’t get far in these sports without that. They are good kids and so hardworking. We never miss a race, and we cheer for everyone, even kids from other schools.”
All three brothers excel academically, have earned seals of Mandarin biliteracy — which they first pursued to converse with their paternal grandparents — and are involved in school and church leadership.
The three are officers in the National Honor Society. Chayce is president of the Jaguar Athletic Leadership Advisory Committee, which hosts the annual pancake breakfast fundraiser and canned food drives, along with setting up events held on the track. He also attends the statewide Arizona Interscholastic Association Student Leadership Advisory Committee to be a voice for high school student-athletes.
Away from school, Evan plays piano on his church worship team, while Greyson and Chayce serve as student coaches at their church’s junior high ministry.
“We are preparing the next generation to get involved with their faith,” Greyson says.
Separate Paths, Shared Legacy
As the Han brothers set the pace for the next generation of Jaguar runners and help their teams clinch top state honors, big changes are in store after graduation.
For the first time in their young lives, they’re likely to go their separate ways for college, but all plan to keep running. Evan has his eye on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or his father’s alma mater, Cornell University, and would like to double major in Mandarin and business or communication. Greyson sees a future at the University of Oregon’s storied NCAA track program and may pursue finance or physical therapy. Chayce sees the University of Colorado and its architectural engineering program as his collegiate path.
As the Hans bid farewell to their high school careers, their impact on the Boulder Creek cross-country and track programs will extend far beyond their final season. They’ve set a new standard for excellence on the track, in the classroom and in the community. As Chayce, Evan and Greyson part ways for college, the lessons they’ve learned through running — the importance of discipline, teamwork and faith — will undoubtedly shape their paths.
“I’m confident that this team will have a lasting impact for future years,” Clarke says. “If this year’s freshmen carry themselves like the Hans do as seniors, it will carry on for another generation. As much as we love winning, the character aspect is so important. The Hans really do embody that.”
As the next generation of Jaguar runners prepares to grasp the baton, the Han triplets’ legacy of leadership, success and camaraderie will serve as a guiding example. Their story is one of a true brotherly bond, a testament to what can be achieved through unwavering commitment and teamwork. As they reach the finish line of their high school careers, the Han dynasty’s indelible mark on track and trails is far from over.