Jefferson paces Hoosiers

The past year has seen a transformation of IU's marquee distance runner. \nAfter nearly two years of frustration due to injury and other factors, Florida native Sean Jefferson came to national prominence last year with a serious breakthrough. Jefferson seized the NCAA Indoor Championships mile final halfway through with a strong surge and never looked back, coasting across the finish line in celebration, his time right at the magical four-minute barrier.\nHis NCAA win is viewed as his top performance to date. The basics for that victory, however, were forged on a cold, wet afternoon in Terre Haute, which played host to the 2003 NCAA Great Lakes Regional, a race stocked with national talent. Rounding a bend midway through the race, spectators spotted Jefferson as he emerged in the upper echelon of the race, separated from a pack filled with rivals. \n"When I saw Sean come out of the back of the course that far up, I thought he'd finally figured things out and that things were going to be different for him," said former Hoosier Nathan Gooden.\nThis year, Jefferson and IU have the elements to improve on last year's 12th place NCAA finish.\n"We're thinking top five," Jefferson said. "With my brother John in the mix, we should be solid." \nThe outlook was not always so bright for Jefferson. He spent the majority of his early career battling injuries. Other than an IU freshman record in the 5,000 meters and an appearance at the USA Track and Field Championships, Jefferson had to learn to persevere, train deliberately and listen to his body. He also had to learn how to race properly. Slowly, he worked his way through. \nTwo weeks after the Regional, Jefferson used the same surge tactic at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. One of only a handful of runners to run the last half of the race faster than the first, Jefferson went from mid-pack to 19th overall, good for earning All-American status. \n"At NCAAs I wanted to do exactly what I did at Regional and move up after the halfway point, turn the race into a 5K," Jefferson said. \nHis success grew out of patience. The restraint to wait for the right point to launch a mid-race surge, a cross-country learning experiment, brought him his NCAA mile title. \nBut Jefferson's banner year also had its downside. After two straight All-American seasons and a Big Ten 1,500-meter title, he developed a chronic foot injury that knocked him out of contention at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Previously planning on making a run at the U.S. Olympic team, Jefferson had to watch on TV as Ohio State's Rob Myers, whom he regularly defeated, finished third at the Trials and earned a shot at Athens. \nAll of this just taught Jefferson more patience. This year, things have to be planned out well in advance. and IU cross country coach Robert Chapman has a plan.\n"We have two other championships later in the year, with indoor and outdoor track," Chapman said. "In designing a training plan, we have to wait a little longer to start up tough workouts so that guys can get through the entire year strong."\nThat task begins now. Training is delicate, and Chapman said he knows Jefferson must be patient. Luckily, Jefferson has learned that trick well.\n-- Contact staff writer Rob DeWitte at rdewitte@indiana.edu.