Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

[Alan]

Jonathan Johnson, the 3rd place finisher in the USATF 800, announced he would not participate in the World Championships.

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/07 ... 3008.shtml

As many of you will recall, Johnson was involved in a number of thrilling races at the NCAAs and USATFs. In the former, Johnson lost the 800 by .01 second and then came back roughly one hour later to record a 44.5 split for Texas Tech in the 4 X 400 relay.

Then, in the USATF meet, Johnson opened up a huge lead at the 500-meter mark of the 800 final, then held on -- somehow -- to third at the finish.

Johnson is very young (he just completed his soph season) and I can see where having to stay in competitive form the whole time from January (beginning of indoor collegiate season) to August would be very draining.

Keep an eye out for this young man in the future
(I may be a little biased since I'm a professor at Texas Tech, but I think he's the real thing).

[gh]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

Paging Sam Burley!!!!

A qualifier is 1:46.00

4. Floyd Thompson PRed at 1:46.78 at USATF
5. Jess Strutzel 1:46.94 this year, 1:47.92 last year, PR 1:45.81 dates back to '99
6. Sam Burley has a Q from last year

[gh]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

If Burley is somehow hurt and can't go, Derrick Peterson's 1;45 at Maine this weekend gives him the A qualifier.

[Guest]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

If Burley does not go and since Peterson has the A qualifier would they take hime even though he did not make the finals at USAs? What about the other guys who made the finals what will happen, and doesn't Moise Joesph have the A qualifier also. Awaiting the third member. I would go with Peterson, he has had a rough season, but is coming into form now I see. I'm bias because I see most of his workouts, from being on the same track as he.

[Franko]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

Johnson finished 8th in an 800 in Cork, Ireland in 1:54 on Saturday. I think his body was sending him a message. Would Sam Burley be in any better shape as he also did the NCAA/USATF stint? Wasn't there a 1:45.9 run in the Maine Distance Festival this weekend?

[Franko]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

Da! I am sorry, I forgot the earlier mention of Derrick Peterson.

[Franko]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

A little more info on the Cork meet. Kadevis Robinson won the 800 in 1:47 and Seneca Lassiter finished last in the 1500 in 3:50. The race was won in 3:40. We can only hope he was doing another pace job. Dan Browne ran 13:42 and was far back in the 5000 won in 13:29.

[trackstar]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

>(I may be a little biased since I'm a
>professor at Texas Tech, but I think he's the
>real thing).

Hey, a little bias is nothing to be ashamed of -- my dad is a Tech alum, so I always root for Tech as long as they aren't up against Texas. And you're absolutely right about Johnson -- he first came to my attention when he set the Texas HS record at UIL two years ago. He is a very determined athlete. You can see the fight in his eyes every race.

[Guest]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

I believe Jonathon made a wise decision. He has run extemely hard and has had no down time this year. Jonathon with a little time off, some more strength and speed work will be dynamite next year. Plus Tech supposedly has an outstanding recruiting class coming in next year that will help take some pressure off of him.

[Guest]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

Johnson is very young (he just
>completed his soph season) and I can see where
>having to stay in competitive form the whole time
>from January (beginning of indoor collegiate
>season) to August would be very draining.
>

Actually, he's older than most (American) sophomores.

[Alan]

Re: Jonathan Johnson (800) Pulls Out of WC

Anyone interested in chatting specifically about Texas Tech track and field (and there appears to be at least one of you in this thread), feel free to stop by RaiderPower.com, on the "Baseball and Other Sports" directory. A direct link is:

http://insiders6.ezboard.com/fraiderpowerfrm7

During the Big 12, regionals, and NCAAs, we got some great threads going! Anyone can read the messages, but to post, you must complete the free registration.

If the program continues to improve as it has been doing the last couple of years under Coach Wes Kittley (who won something like over 20 NCAA team titles in Division II while at Abilene Christian), then maybe we'll get our own track thread!