LISBON – Theirs is not a traditional sibling rivalry. Erik and Tara Metzger do compete for entirely different teams while sporting the same name across the front of the jersey, after all.

But if you think the versatile Lisbon High School track and field stars aren’t battling one another while showcasing their skills at different ends of the stadium, you haven’t engaged either of them in conversation for, oh, about 30 seconds.

“Last year I got more points than Erik,” said Tara, a sophomore sprinter and jumper. “We’re kind of competitive about that.”

Erik, a senior specializing in any event you can imagine that’s one lap or less, shook his head, rolled his eyes and suppressed a laugh.

“It’s hard,” he said, “because I feel like I have to tell her how to do something if she’s doing it wrong.”

Dramatic pause. Icy stare.

“Of course, she doesn’t agree with that,” noted Erik.

The Metzgers may dispute the family details, but there’s no arguing that both the brother and the sister are favorites in up to four events when the Mountain Valley Conference championships unfold Friday afternoon at Lewiston High School.

Lisbon, having won every multi-team meet exclusively involving MVC schools by a chasm of more than 100 points, is an overwhelming favorite to sweep the boys’ and girls’ titles for the fourth straight year.

Erik Metzger pushed the Greyhounds to the conference title in both the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays last May. He also finished second in the individual 400 and fifth in the 200. His foursome scored points in both relays at the Class C state meet, where Lisbon wound up second in the team standings.

Tara’s freshman championship season included two seconds (4×100, long jump) and a fourth (triple jump) at MVCs, then third (triple jump) and two fifths (long jump, 4×100) at states.

“We cheer each other on,” Tara eventually admitted.

“Last year we (the girls) got fourth at states, and this year there’s a lot of new people,” she added. “But there’s also a lot of strong people who were here last year and are at the top of their game this year.”

Although it was no surprise, Tara’s continued development was a necessary infusion for a team that suffered an exorbitant toll of graduation losses.

Leaving behind ninth grade is an important rite of passage for any high school student. In track, it’s a milestone whose importance is impossible to overestimate.

“I always think sophomores are the greatest because they’re no longer freshmen,” said Dean Hall, Lisbon’s coach for 31 seasons. “You don’t have to explain a lot of things.”

Hall noted Metzger’s technique at a recent rainy-day practice inside Lisbon’s Manchester Gymnasium, her arms not flailing but moving in short, rhythmic thrusts to match the landing of the opposite foot.

“You watch a kid that’s three years old running and it’s (natural). Somewhere along the way they get screwed up,” Hall said. “Tara has come a long way because her arms and her body finally caught up. The body moves together. She’s not fighting.”

While Tara and Erik have been good for 40 points at many regular-season meets, neither needs to be the cornerstone of the team.

Reigning state shot put champion Rebekah Sullivan leads the girls. The elder Metzger is one of many senior and junior threats on a boys’ team that features Cam Bubar, Kyle Huston, Junior Clement, Joe Doughty and Tyler Campbell.

“Erik’s just been a pit bull ever since eighth grade,” Hall said.

The family tradition precedes them. Erik and Tara’s older brother, Chris, competed for the Greyhounds from 1996 to ’99.

“He was a legend, also,” recalled the coach.

If the two are carving out their own place in Lisbon’s unofficial track hall of fame, there’s no doubt that having each other for either good-natured competition or a calming influence has been a boost.

But in Lisbon’s secret formula, everyone is family. Erik Metzger’s characterization of coaches Hall, Hank Fuller and Dan Sylvester likens them to proud parents.

“It’s never really been a question of whether we can do it or not, because they’ve always been so encouraging,” he said. “They already have their expectations set for us. We just have to step up and meet them.”

And then count points and hash out bragging rights on their own time.