OTD: Jefferson Twins Out-kick Ryan Hall, Atlantic Wins DMR

Adair Lyden


On April 14, 2001 Florida distance running twins made history at the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia, California. 

Atlantic alumni, Sean and John Jefferson, travelled across the country to compete in one of the most stacked elite high school mile races the nation has seen in history. Ryan Hall and Alan Webb were among the top national favorites for the race, but that didn't stop the Jeffersons from showing what the sunshine state has to offer.  

Webb put in an epic surge, one that dropped Hall from contention for the win and put the Jeffersons in prime position as they cruised passed Hall to finish second (J. Jefferson) and third (S. Jefferson) with times of 4:05.54 and 4:07.25.

Arcadia Dream Mile

PLACE ATHLETE NAME              YR SCHOOL                    TIME
===== ========================= == ========================= =======
    1 Webb, Alan                12 SOUTH LAKES,RESTON,VIRGIN 4:01.81
    2 Jefferson, John           12 ATLANTIC COMMUNITY,DELRAY 4:05.54
    3 Jefferson, Sean           12 ATLANTIC COMMUNITY,DELRAY 4:07.25
    4 Hall, Ryan                12 BIG BEAR HIGH,BIG BEAR,CA 4:08.37

These mile times converted to the 1600m distance of 4:04.12 and 4:05.82 are the second and fourth fastest 1600m times for Florida athletes all-time. 

Florida 1600m All-Time List

RANKTIMEATHLETE/TEAMGRADEMEETDATEPLACE
14:02.46
Samuel Vazquez
Flagler Palm Coast HS
2003
adidas Outdoor Championships
24:04.12
John Jefferson
Atlantic HS (Delray)
2001
Arcadia Invitational
34:04.45
Andres Arroyo
Colonial HS
2013
Metro Conference Finals1st
44:05.82
Sean Jefferson
Atlantic HS (Delray)
2001
Arcadia Invitational
54:05.96
Sukhi Khosla
Leon HS
2015
FHSAA Outdoor State Finals, Saturday1st


What's more impressive? 

The Jeffersons doubled back to lead the Atlantic Distance Medley Relay team to a sub-10 minute win against Alan Webb and the South Lake team -- with the third best time in the event ever at the time in 2001. 

"John received the stick with a ten second lead over South Lake. Webb took the baton and came back to split 4:00 after his 4:01 earlier in the evening but it was not enough as John seemed to cruise to a 4:06 for the victory!" Jason Byrne recalls in a 2001 race recap of the Arcadia Invitational. 

Read: Jeffersons Out-kick Hall! Atlantic Wins Sub-10 DMR!

The Jeffersons went on to compete at the next level for Indiana University and continued to race and mature into two of the top young distance athletes in the nation. 

Read: Boys to Men: Jefferson Twins