Twin runners look for successful year after redshirt season

In 1998, Colorado coach Mark Wetmore was able to lure two of the top recruits in the nation to his university, identical twins Ed and Jorge Torres. Last year the Torres twins were able to lead Colorado to a national championship and are a favorite to repeat this year. Last year IU coach Robert Chapman brought twins John and Sean Jefferson from Florida to Indiana with hopes of the same success Colorado's twins brought. After redshirting freshman year, they are vital toward the team's success this year. "We need one or two front runners to step up," Chapman said, "The Jefferson twins and (Stephen) Haas all have the pedigree to be a front runner for us." Along with Haas from North Carolina and Eric Redman from Indianapolis, the Jeffersons headlined a top recruiting class last year. Previously Chapman built his teams with primarily top Indiana athletes making the Hoosiers roster appear like an Indiana high school all-star team.

This was Chapman's first class in which he was particularly successful in recruiting out-of-state athletes. "We've always based our team on in-state high school talent, and that is certainly the core of the team," Chapman said, "But now we have been able to take the logical next step and attract some of the top high school talent in the nation to Indiana." Even with their youth, they are essential to the success of the season. The team will be without two of its top runners for the season, senior Chad Andrews and junior Chris Powers. Andrews will redshirt this season, and Powers is studying in Europe for the semester. With the upperclassman's absence, the Jeffersons will have a much larger role to play. They said they recognize this responsibility and plan to step up for the team. "I want to help the team go to nationals and be a big part of it," Sean said, "I just want to stay healthy and run well." Both twins boast an impressive running career after running just one race for the IU cross country team. As a sophomore in high school John was a Foot Locker All-American in the two mile. He was once third in his state meet in cross country and twice runner-up. He enjoyed an amazing track season by finishing runner-up in the Big Ten in the 1500 and was an All-American in the indoor 1500. Sean is the state record holder for the two-mile and was a three-time state champion in the event. He finished runner-up as a freshman. In cross country, he was twice the third place finisher and once the runner-up in the state meet. They also led their team to a team state championship in the meet as seniors. They plan to add to their trophy room with high expectations for the upcoming season. "My goals are to be an All-American, place high on the team and hopefully a top ten finish as a team," John said. The pair led IU Friday at the Indiana Open in their first collegiate cross country race. John was the top runner for the Hoosiers with a second place overall finish and a 22:29.10 on the eight kilometer course. Sean was fourth place overall with a time of 22:38.30.