The boys are all grown up. From tearing up local meets in south Florida to last spring's series of DMR battles and scorching mile races against Alan Webb and company, we have watched the twins mature into two of the top young distance athletes in the nation.
Now teammates at the University of Indiana, Sean and John Jefferson are taking their game even higher. The Jefferson Twins are poised to assert themselves among the elite in collegiate running: Sean the 3K sultan and John the mile maestro.
Sean's running is currently hampered by a minor stress fracture in his foot. It is likely that he will sit out of any open races this indoor season, but if all goes well he will be back for a relay leg of Indiana's DMR at the Big 10 Conference Championships, where Indiana hopes to record a national qualifying time.
John, meanwhile, might already have an Indoor Nationals invitation. Last Friday the freshman came through big at the Indiana Relays; his time of 4:02.37 on the unbanked indoor track put him under the provisional qualifying standard for NCAA Indoor Nationals in March.
"They have automatic and provisional standards," John told flrunners.com in a phone interview Wednesday, "…with provisional, if 16 people don't beat your time…you're in." John's time, converted, currently stands at third in the nation which means that it is very likely that it will stand as his ticket to nationals.
Just in case John will have one or two shots at setting a new mark. "I'm going to be running the mile at Big 10 against some fast guys like Nate (Brannen of Michigan)," he said, "but that race (unlike Indiana Relays) has prelims and finals so the race will probably be more tactical than fast." Alan Webb might also make an appearance in the mile at Big 10, but as of now that is uncertain. "He was injured…he might redshirt…no one really knows what Alan is going to do." But what a race that would be! And just in case he needs another go, the Last Chance Meet at Notre Dame will give John a final opportunity to run a faster time.
"I want to be around 4:00 or under at Nationals, but with the trials and finals it will be hard…but with all the fast guys (and adrenaline) who knows." If John's time does hold up and Indiana can qualify a DMR team to nationals the decision is clear. "I would be running just the mile at nationals, Sean would run the anchor (on the distance medley team), and one of the seniors would step in for the 1200."
The psychological jump from lockers and homeroom to the land of fraternities and independence, and the transplant from sunny Florida to the heart of the Midwest might be too tough for some, but Sean and John say they have transitioned nicely to college life and Indiana weather. "It's in the 30s right now and 40s during the day…it's not too bad," John explained, "the first time I had seen snow was up here junior year for Indoors…but it's only snowed like twice this whole winter." But what about grades and school work? Both twins are currently undeclared but are leaning toward a major in business. "I had a 2.6 (GPA) first semester…Sean got a 3.0," John admitted (a little bitterly). "I'll get him though!"
Our next chance to see John race will be this weekend at Penn State, where he will be running a 3000. Sean will likely begin to run again next Monday; if his recovery goes as expected he will run a return to relay legs by season end and be at full strength for the start of Outdoors.
Now teammates at the University of Indiana, Sean and John Jefferson are taking their game even higher. The Jefferson Twins are poised to assert themselves among the elite in collegiate running: Sean the 3K sultan and John the mile maestro.
Sean's running is currently hampered by a minor stress fracture in his foot. It is likely that he will sit out of any open races this indoor season, but if all goes well he will be back for a relay leg of Indiana's DMR at the Big 10 Conference Championships, where Indiana hopes to record a national qualifying time.
.jpg) John Jefferson at Florida 4A Outdoor Finals last spring. Photo by Jason Byrne |
John, meanwhile, might already have an Indoor Nationals invitation. Last Friday the freshman came through big at the Indiana Relays; his time of 4:02.37 on the unbanked indoor track put him under the provisional qualifying standard for NCAA Indoor Nationals in March.
"They have automatic and provisional standards," John told flrunners.com in a phone interview Wednesday, "…with provisional, if 16 people don't beat your time…you're in." John's time, converted, currently stands at third in the nation which means that it is very likely that it will stand as his ticket to nationals.
Just in case John will have one or two shots at setting a new mark. "I'm going to be running the mile at Big 10 against some fast guys like Nate (Brannen of Michigan)," he said, "but that race (unlike Indiana Relays) has prelims and finals so the race will probably be more tactical than fast." Alan Webb might also make an appearance in the mile at Big 10, but as of now that is uncertain. "He was injured…he might redshirt…no one really knows what Alan is going to do." But what a race that would be! And just in case he needs another go, the Last Chance Meet at Notre Dame will give John a final opportunity to run a faster time.
"I want to be around 4:00 or under at Nationals, but with the trials and finals it will be hard…but with all the fast guys (and adrenaline) who knows." If John's time does hold up and Indiana can qualify a DMR team to nationals the decision is clear. "I would be running just the mile at nationals, Sean would run the anchor (on the distance medley team), and one of the seniors would step in for the 1200."
The psychological jump from lockers and homeroom to the land of fraternities and independence, and the transplant from sunny Florida to the heart of the Midwest might be too tough for some, but Sean and John say they have transitioned nicely to college life and Indiana weather. "It's in the 30s right now and 40s during the day…it's not too bad," John explained, "the first time I had seen snow was up here junior year for Indoors…but it's only snowed like twice this whole winter." But what about grades and school work? Both twins are currently undeclared but are leaning toward a major in business. "I had a 2.6 (GPA) first semester…Sean got a 3.0," John admitted (a little bitterly). "I'll get him though!"
Our next chance to see John race will be this weekend at Penn State, where he will be running a 3000. Sean will likely begin to run again next Monday; if his recovery goes as expected he will run a return to relay legs by season end and be at full strength for the start of Outdoors.