Jefferson hits 4-minute mile at Indiana Invitational

Perhaps track and field's most hallowed barrier -- the four-minute mile -- is something every runner dreams of eclipsing. Each year, IU distance coach Robert Chapman sets up an elite heat of the mile, with runners included specifically to set a hot pace and a gathering of IU and neighboring distance talent. The race is consistently one of the top events of the meet. \nThis year's edition didn't disappoint. \nSophomore All-American Sean Jefferson electrified the home crowd, finishing second at the Indiana Invitational Friday, running 4:00.8 in a mile race won by former Ohio State All-American Rob Myers in 4:00.1. Jefferson used a 28-second final lap to post the year's fastest collegiate time and a six-second personal best, which qualified him for the NCAA Indoor Championships.\n"My legs were heavy all day before the race, I think I was nervous," Jefferson said. "I felt fine once the race started, I just wish I'd gone nine-tenths of a second faster." \nThe race saw three other Hoosiers dip under 4:09: senior All-American Chris Powers (4:07), sophomore Stephen Haas (4:08) and sophomore Eric Redman (4:07). Senior Tom Burns also clocked 4:12. \nSaturday's focus shifted to the sprints, where freshman phenom David Neville provided the thrills, posting two NCAA provisional qualifiers in the 200 meter (21.44) and 400 meter (47.34). Neville also anchored IU's winning 4 x 400 relay.\nThe performances of both Neville and Jefferson changed the team's plans for next weekend's meet at Arkansas, which boasts a fast, state of the art, 200-meter banked track.\n"Now that Sean's qualified for NCAA's, we can go to Tyson next weekend and try to qualify a distance medley relay," Chapman said. "Combining Sean, Neville, Hollis and Redman, we can send a relay team to NCAA's, too."\n"I'm excited to run the DMR now," Redman said. "I think we can put up a time that will automatically qualify."\nProving the trend that a few weeks of consistently solid throws foretell a significant improvement, junior thrower Ryan Ketchum heaved a lifetime best 17.36 meters in the shot put to finish second behind Ohio State's NCAA record holder Dan Taylor.\nThe Hoosiers return to action at the site of the NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend when Arkansas hosts the Tyson Invitational. \n-- Contact staff writer Rob DeWitte at rdewitte@indiana.edu.