All-American preps for big year

Sophomore Sean Jefferson has always been fast. In middle school he fancied himself a sprinter. By his senior year of high school, he discovered there were few people he couldn't out run over longer distances. \nIn distance running, coaches say speed kills, and Sean has speed.\n"If you have natural speed, all you have to do is get basic fitness under your belt," said IU coach Robert Chapman. "Then, in races you can relax and open a big can of whoop-ass." \nSpeed is the deciding factor in indoor racing.\n"Sean has 'tactical speed' indoors, the ability to change gears and accelerate almost instantaneously," Chapman said. "With tight turns on indoor tracks, he's especially dangerous."\nBut Sean's expertise can also be his curse. \n"A lot of guys with great natural speed are chronic sit-and-kick specialists," Chapman said. "If you're not careful, it can make you a one-dimensional racer."\nJefferson resolved this weakness in cross country, rebounding from finishing in 21st at the Big Ten championships to a stellar third place at regionals. At the NCAA championships, Jefferson used the same strategy, running within himself the first 5K in 15:11. The last half he let loose his speed and ran 14:46 for one of the fastest second 5Ks in the field. Shaking his legs out of an early pace in zero temperatures, far removed from his Floridian high school climate, Jefferson passed forty runners to finish All-American in no. 19, the highest IU finish since U.S. 5K record holder Bob Kennedy won the meet in 1992. \n"Sean really matured into a national level competitor at Regionals and NCAA's," Chapman said. "It shows a lot of maturity and confidence in a runner to let the pack go in the early stages, knowing you can run them down at the end."\nSean is in some respects on unfamiliar ground, as his lifelong training partner, and his twin brother John, also an All-American, has been sidelined since summer. John aches to get back on the track in light of Sean's success.\n"It's sweet to see Sean running so well," John said. "I can't wait to get back -- we could get in great shape for the Trials. We've always worked together, so it hurts to not be able to train and race with him." \nFlying solo, Sean is set for a strong track season, the ultimate test waiting at the Olympic Trials in Sacramento in July. Yet to find his best distance, Jefferson is flexible enough to qualify for the trials in both the 1500 and 5000-meters. His maturity will be an asset in late-season meets as he will balance training and racing for seven months. He capped outdoor track last year by finishing 11th place in the 1500-meters at the USATF Championships against professionals. Sean also holds the freshman 5K record at 13:58. \nJefferson has easily won his first two indoor races, including a mile in 4:12, simple considering his personal best is 4:06. Jefferson views his best times as unremarkable and looks forward to racing in one of the nation's toughest distance conferences. \n"I'm more confident this year," he said, "I can't wait for fast races the next few weeks, like Arkansas. The entire mile field has run as fast or faster than I have."\nOutdoors, Jefferson will race sparingly, in fewer relay carnivals, concentrating on peaking at the Olympic Trials.\n"With good timing, Sean can be a major player at NCAA's indoors and still meet his goals for outdoor and the trials," Chapman said.