Decathlete puts team, faith before self
5/31/2011 11:00:00 PM | Track & Field
By Brandon Scott
Many times, people view track and field as an individual sport. But one Sam Houston State athlete is proving it is about the team, and at the same time balancing a schedule that includes school, practice, workouts and continuing to work with his faith in God.
When he landed at Portland International Airport on Tuesday, Matt Johnson accompanied Sam Houston State men's track and field as an alternate for the relay team competing in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championship West Preliminary.
As one of the NCAA's top athletes, ranked ninth in decathlon this year, Matt already qualifies for the National Finals in Des Moines, Iowa on June 8-11. He doesn't have to be in Oregon.
Matt could be somewhere in Texas getting ready for his big moment, inching his way closer competing against decathletes he looks up – the likes of US greats Tom Pappas, Bryan Clay and Ashton Eaton (world record holder in heptathlon).
But Matt isn't carrying around a huge ego. Actually, the SHSU men's indoor season MVP takes advantage of any opportunity to be a part of the team.
“It's a good feeling,” Johnson said. “Just because I know that I help my team out a whole lot. That's one thing I look at in the multi – I can reach my individual goal and I can also benefit the team in a big way because I do so many different things.”
Matt's body is acclimated to competing at a higher level over an extended period of time, in multiple events. He competed in the heptathlon during indoor season, breaking personal records and posting school records as well.
Not bad for an alternate on the relay team. Johnson credits his success to the training of his coaches.
“They tell me exactly what to do,” Johnson said. “Whatever they say do, that's just what I do.”
Even when Matt hits a big jump or runs a fast race, his coaches are telling him what he could have done to be faster or jump further.
He's successful because he's dedicated and hard-working – a coach's dream. Johnson says he always has the mindset of getting better and the coaches encourage him.
Matt Johnson is one Sam Houston's best athletes because he has faith in his coaches, himself, and Jesus Christ, most importantly.
“This is not the peak. You can always get better,” Johnson says. He quotes Christ from Luke 18:27, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
PUTTING THE TEAM FIRST
On the last day of final's week, Matt is working to get better. But it's an easy day. The wind is blowing, sky is gray, and he stands shirtless at the York Track Complex. Johnson is wearing what he and fellow hurdler Scottie Jones call a distraction for competitors – “extra” small shorts that an old guy, jogging through a neighborhood would wear.
Assistant coach Clint Blinka is observing Matt and coaching him up. Blinka is instructing Matt to stay patient out of the back, not rushing his discus throw. Yet, the ability is still evident.
“You're going to throw 160' this week,” Blinka tells Johnson.
That's when a friend of Matt's drove by the complex in a red pickup truck and shouted, “What are you wearing?”
“It's a cool day outside,” Johnson laughed.
Eventually he walked to the track, again, this time to do a short hurdle workout with assistant coach Keith Herston.
They wanted clean up technicalities in Matt's running to get confidence going into the weekend's conference meet. Herston said Matt should be his natural aggressive self, but a controlled aggressive. Coaches don't want him collapsing on the backside of the hurdles, or doing things improperly.
Both Herston and head coach David Self thought Matt looked good enough to run a 14.20 in the 110 meter hurdles.
Matt and the coaches decided it would be better for him to not compete in the decathlon at the conference meet, since he already qualified for nationals. Instead, he participated in some of his strongest individual events to earn more points for the team.
Johnson placed sixth in the 110, recording a modest 14.73. He also placed fifth in long jump, with a 23' 5.5" posting and fourth in javelin throw, 197'. The plan worked. The most he could have scored in the decathlon for the team was 10 points. He ended up scoring 12.
Matt Johnson can do it all. He's a decathlete, the physical fitness version of superman.
The men's decathlon is a two-day event, broken into 10 different competitions. On day one, decathletes run the 100 meter race, long jump, shot put, high jump before finishing off with the 400 meter race.
The second day, they run 110 meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw before ending with a 1,500 meter run.
But Matt is running an even longer race.
NO TIME TO REST
On an ordinary morning, he wakes up at 8 a.m. at his home in Richards – a 30-minute drive, west of Huntsville. Richards is where Matt works as a youth director for his church and he decided to move there to be closer to the kids.
He sits in classes at Sam Houston until noon, before he breaks for lunch. From one to four, Matt practices. Then he has weights immediately following. By six that evening he's usually involved in some sort of ministry.
If it's Monday, Johnson is a huddle leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Tuesday night he does a different college ministry. Wednesday night's he teaches youth bible study in Richards.
Matt started a men's small group with teammate Henry Jordan that meets on Thursdays. Ten guys usually show up for that. He calls Friday and Saturday “down days” – just school and practice until the sun goes down.
Sunday is probably Matt's favorite day of the week. He teaches Sunday school before church and there's the night service as well. Even with his gifted athletic ability, Johnson continues to strive to be like the religious version of Superman
WEARING HIS FAITH ON HIS SLEEVE
At the Ron Randleman Strength and Conditioning Center, Matt lifts weights wearing a blue t-shirt with the iconic “S” logo on the front, like the one seen in comics, television and movies.
But this shirt is a bit different, as it represents a hero of all heroes.
“Jesus Christ, The Original Superman,” is decorated around the logo. Under the fabric is a cross tattooed on his back. Jesus fish form the Ks on in the cross, spelling “King of Kings.”
The left banner at the top says Jesus, the right one says Christ. Two doves are holding banners that read, “Lord of Lords.”
When Matt talks about how good God is, he blushes and it's easy to see how much more his faith means to him than athletics.
His parents divorced when he was a young child. Matt says when they were married, the family went to church more often. But after the divorce, both parents worked more often and church became an “every now and then” event.
It wasn't until high school until Matt's friend J.J. Garcia invited him to church and the Holy
Spirit convicted him, Johnson says. The minister was preaching on pride and things to let go.
“The Holy Spirit came on me then and came into my heart,” Johnson recalls. “I need to recognize the ability God was giving me. He's the one who gives me the ability and the opportunity to exercise those abilities.”
Johnson wasn't just talking about exercising abilities on track and field. During a time before Matt read his bible regularly, a prophet told him he would be a preacher some day. Those days are here. Johnson wants to become a full-time minister when his athletic and academic careers are over.
He frequently mentions “pouring” into people, making them better for knowing Jesus Christ. Matt Johnson is one of the best college athletes on earth, but he thinks in dimensions beyond that.
Not bad for an alternate on the relay team.
