Seeing doubles

Imagine a four person relay team that appeared to only use two runners. Also think that with those two runners, the relay team was preparing to lap its opposition.\nThe men's track and field team is led in the running events this season by two sets of identical twins, John and Sean Jefferson and Rodney and Russell Hollis.\n"They're the foundation of the team with their sections they represent," coach Marshall Goss said. "They do a good job and make a very solid foundation."\nThe Jefferson twins came to IU as top national recruits from Delray Beach, Florida, possibly the number three and four prep runners in the nation behind high school legends Dathan Ritzenheim from Michigan and Alan Webb from Virginia.\nJohn was a Foot Locker All-American in the two-mile as a sophomore and finished in the top three at the cross country state meet from his sophomore to senior year. Sean was a three-time state champion in the two-mile and set the state record in the event.\nJohn got off to a quicker start for their college careers as Sean lost time training last year because of injury. Sean redshirted the indoor and outdoor season and enters track with freshman eligibility. John has already made his presence felt earning several awards, including Big Ten Freshman of the Year for cross country, All-American honors twice for indoor track and was national runner-up in the mile during the indoor season.\nDistance coach Robert Chapman said Sean has as much potential as John, probably at the longer events. Sean's injury last year cost him speed work training, but he looks this outdoor season to have a breakout season. He showed flashes of breaking out during the indoor season.\nGoss said he has never coached twins as similar as the Hollis'. From the classroom to the track, the pair is remarkably identical.\nAs was the case with the Jeffersons, one of the Hollis twins began his career with an injury. Rodney got a stress fracture last year which slowed his development. However a year after his injury, he has returned to Russell's side. Rodney had a breakout indoor season in which he broke the school record in 600 meters and shattered his personal record in 800 meters, running under 1:50. Russell also ran in the sub 1:50 range, mostly as a split on relay teams.\nThe Hollis twins did not have the credentials of the Jeffersons coming out of high school in Michigan City, Ind. However after buying into their training programs, their potential is unlimited. The team is counting on the pair for points in the Big Ten Championship in the 4x400 meter relay, the 4x800 meter relay and the open 800 meters.\nAs great as they have been on the track, the four athletes have matched their performances in the classroom. Both Rodney and Russell major in exercise science while John and Sean are undecided.\n"Studies come first," Russell said. "We're student-athletes, not athlete-students."\nThis weekend the four will be counted on as the team faces a tough three-way meet involving Central Michigan and Indiana State. So far they have produced and they expect to do more of the same this weekend.\n"I think when you watch this weekend, all four of them will go out there and get the job done." Goss said.