DENVER – MSU Denver twin distance runners Jonathan and Jordan Duran are 1,500 meters away from Paris.
 
The Durans will make a run for the 2024 Paralympic Games in France on Saturday, when they compete at the U.S. Paralympic Trials in Miramar, Fla.
 
"They definitely have a chance," said Amanda Rego, MSU Denver's associate head coach for cross country and track & field.
 
A watch party is planned for Saturday at 1 p.m., at the Buffalo Wild Wings at 10500 E. Garden Drive in Aurora, Colo.
 
The brothers are shooting for a time of about 3 minutes, 55 seconds in the 1,500 – about five seconds faster than their previous bests. Should either, or both, hit that time, they could very well be on their way to the Paralympic Games, which follow the Olympic Games in Paris and will run from Aug. 24 through Sept. 8.
 
"We've been training throughout the summer and it's been going well," Jonathan said.
 
Said Jordan: "We've been training hard, working hard, eating right and sleeping right. We're getting stronger and faster."
 
The twins are both on the autism spectrum, making them eligible to pursue spots in the Paralympics Games. They are elite runners in their Paralympics classification of T20 – they just missed out on qualifying for the Paralympics World Championships earlier this year after finishing second and third, respectively, at the National Championships.
 
"We were so close, but we were proud of ourselves," Jonathan said. "But we're about ready. This is like Round One in a video game."
 
Qualifying for Team USA for the Paralympics Games in track & field is more difficult for elite athletes than it is for top Olympic hopefuls.
 
Team USA brings a set number of competitors to the Paralympics Games, so finishing, say, in the top three of an event at the Trials might not be good enough as it is for the Olympic team. The selection committee evaluates times and performances at the trials and extends invitations to those athletes deemed closest to the highest level. In other words, those whose performances appear closest to being capable of achieving medals get to go. Only 60 competitors from the USA will go to the Paralympics in track & field.
 
"This is all very new for them, and it would be a huge bonus if they could make the team this year," Rego said. "Down the road, hopefully they'll have many more chances to compete in more events, but the Paralympic Games are only once every four years so we're hoping they can get there this year."
 
The Durans have already made one trip to France this year, where they both competed in a Grand Prix meet and went through the final stage of paperwork and interviews for verification of their Paralympics eligibility.
 
"It was fantastic," Jonathan said. "We got to see different cultures compared to America, and the differences in transportation. It's a different language and we were having a hard time trying to get used to it.
 
"It's so beautiful, there's a very rich culture, and I got to have some croissants … really good and buttery, and makes me fat while I'm running."
 
In the race, Jonathan noted how much the pace slowed down after the first lap. He was in a position to make a run, but got passed on the final lap as he began to make his move. Jordan took note of how he got shoved by one of the competitors.
 
"It was a good experience for them," Rego said. "They looked really nervous when they walked out there – they'd never seen anything like that. But once they got the nerves out of the way, they had a blast. They had kids begging for their autographs and the kids tried to take their MSU Denver singlets that they ran in."
 
The Duran brothers originally joined the MSU Denver program as student managers in the fall of 2022, sitting out a season of competition while completing the requirements needed for them to become eligible as NCAA student-athletes.
 
Once that was achieved, Rego started the twins on the path for the Paralympics just under a year ago after learning about Mikey Branningan of Colorado Springs, Colo., a Paralympics star in the 1,500. The twins already knew who Brannigan was – and now they are competing against him.
 
While training year-round for their shot at the Paralympics, the Duran Duran duo also continued to compete for MSU Denver in cross country in the fall and then during the indoor (winter) and outdoor (spring) track & field seasons. The hospitality leadership majors also have excellent cumulative grade point averages of 3.52 (Jonathan) and 3.30 (Jordan), respectively.
 
Working together for a common competitive goal is an experience that has helped the brothers thrive.
 
"We love competition together and we motivate each other," Jonathan said.
 
Said Jordan: "I just say, 'Jon, if you don't run your race, I will find you and I will get you.'"
 
The Durans are prepared to do their best and see if it's good enough to make it to the Paralympic Games. They are also prepared should only one of them make the team.
 
"There's a chance I could be going, and there's a chance that my brother could be going," Jonathan said. "It just depends on how the race goes."
 
Despite spending nearly a year in constant training, the Durans vow to be ready to go for MSU Denver once the cross country seasons begins, targeting the Sept. 21 Roadrunners Invitational at Washington Park for their return. They are typically among the team's top five runners, usually not far behind Noel Lopez and JJ Ramey, each of whom qualified individually for the Division II National Championships last year.
 
"The goal for cross country is to be (team) national champions," Jordan said. "We're coming back for our teammates. We'll be stronger and faster."
 
But first comes a shot at glory on the world stage.
 
"Stay tuned," Jordan said.