Matt Johnson ready for NCAA Decathlon
6/3/2013 12:12:00 AM | Track & Field
NCAA Track & Field Championships Schedule and Results
One of only 10 Sam Houston athletes to earn NCAA Division I track and field All-America honors, senior Matt Johnson heads to Eugene, Oregon, next week for his attempt to become the first Bearkat to achieve that honor twice.
Johnson earned All-America honors in the decathlon in June, 2011, with a 14th place finish in Des Moines, Iowa. After winning the Southland Conference championship with a 7,496 point total in May in Lake Charles, the Port Neches Groves product is excited about his trip to historic Hayward Stadium.
“This year has been a season of battling injuries and adversity,” Johnson said. “I was worried about being able to put up a good enough score to get to nationals. But it all came together at the conference meet.”
Johnson dominated the Southland competition, winning eight of the 10 events.
“Right now, my strengths are the sprints and the hurdles,” Johnson said. “Since conference, we've been working hard on my weaker events like the long jump and the distance races. We're ready to go.”
Johnson has exceled not only at the intercollegiate level but on the international scence as well.
He was one of seven members on the United States team at the 17th Thorpe Cup in 2011. Following his outstanding performance in the event, he was selected as one of three decathletes to represent Team U.S.A. at the Pan American Games to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico.
“The field will be tough with some of the best decathletes in the world,” Johnson said. “It's going to be really great competition.”
Competition in the decathlon will begin at 12 noon (Pacific time) Wednesday, June 5, with the 100 meters. Other events on Wednesday at the long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meter dash.
Thursday, June 6, action begins at 11 a.m. (Pacific time) with the 110 hurdles, followed by the discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500 meters.
Team mate Charles White also will be in Eugene making his second NCAA Division I finals appearance in the triple jump.
The triple jump will be held on the championship's final day on Saturday, June 8, at 12:30 p.m. (Pacific time).
