Posted Date: July 2, 2008

Johnson vaults to second in long jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials

  Brian Johnson solidified his name in Southern University athletic lore by finishing second in the long jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Saturday and earning a spot on the 2008 U. S. Olympic team that competes this summer in Beijing, China.

  Johnson joins outstanding former hurdlers Willie Davenport and Rodney Milburn as Jaguars to earn Olympic berths.

   Johnson had the leading jump on the trials heading into the long jump finals. On Friday, Brian leaped 8.09 meters (26-06.50 feet), outdistancing eventual winner, Travell Quinley, by three inches.

   On Sunday, Quinley lept 8.36 meters (27-05.25 feet) to take the win over Johnson, who had a second place jump of 8.30 meters (27-02.75 feet), while Miguel Pate finished third.

   "I felt pretty good today," said Johnson. "I felt okay. A little jittery at first but it is kind of the biggest meet of your life so you just try tokeep your composure. Once I started to feel it, I started getting where I needed to be. So overall I felt good. I am on the team. I wanted to win, but I let it slip away from me, but I guess the biggest thing is I am on the team and I live to go to Beijing."

   Johnson is a former Southern two-sport athlete (basektball and track), and is the USA's number-one ranked long jumper. Johnson is also an assistant coach for the Southern Jaguars Track team.

   Johnson has three of the top seven jumps in the world this year and entered the US Olympic Trials with the top wind-legal mark of 27-2 3/4 feet. He was the 2006 USA Outdoor champion and was part of the 2005 World Championships team. He currently ranks fourth in the world.

   "My main thing is staying healthy. The distances will get further and further if I stay healthy," replied Johnson.

   Although Johnson trains with former LSU assistant Boo Schexnayder, he dedicated his performance to Southern Head Track Coach, Johnny Thomas. Thomas has been ill for some time now, and has taken a leave of absence from school.

   The Beijing (China) 2008 Olympic Games are August 8-24, 2008.

 

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