Senior clears 49-0.25 in TJ
By Christopher Hunt
PHILADELPHIA – Corning’s Albert Johnson has won some big competitions but nothing like this before. Not with this many people watching. Not with nearly 50,000 in the stands.
“Just being in front of this many people is really cool,” Johnson said. “Even if they’re not even paying attention, it’s still really awesome.”
He had a point, most spectators might have been pre-occupied with the trials of the 4x400 while Johnson won the triple jump, popping 49 feet, 1/2 inch. He ran onto the award podium when they announced his name and waved to the crowd.
“The crowd was going nuts during the 4x400,” he said. “I got goose bumps whenever the runners went by.”
A strained ligament in his right foot has hindered Johnson in his long jump training so he decided to compete in the triple jump. Johnson said he experienced some trouble finding his place on the board during the preliminary round.
“Before the finals we just re-did the approach a bunch of times,” he said. “We kept doing it over and over and just adjusting things as we went along. At first I was behind the board. I fouled a big jump. But it came out OK.”
Johnson admitted that the atmosphere may have played a role in affecting his consistency but his experience competing in the long jump last year, despite finishing eighth, helped him keep his composure.
“When you hear all this stuff around you it’s easy to get a little crazy or hyped up,” he said. “But being here before, you kind of know what you have to deal with. You know what the track feels like, the crowd the officials. It’s easier.”
No one had it easy in the 4x800 Championship of America. Manchester (JA), North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.) and Calabar (JA) separated themselves for most of the race with New York schools Kellenberg, Colonie and Fordham Prep along 
with Hillsborough of New Jersey trailing.
Colonie’s Derrick Ingleston (1:59.3), Nick Santos (1:53.4), Brian Treadway (2:01.5) and Tyler Stewart (1:53.8) finished fourth in 7:48.03. Manchester won in 7:43.22.
Kellenberg was sixth in 7:50.11 with Mike Cook (1:59.4), Michael Elnick (1:54.8), Greg Moss (1:58.2) and Tom Elnick (1:57.7). Fordham Prep’s Harley Griffiths (2:00.7), Mike Jennings (1:55.4), Carlos Petrovich (1:56.9) and Zach Keefer (2:00.4) finished seventh in 7:53.37.
They all took turns chasing the lead pack.
“I work that way, I like catching people,” said Michael Elnick, who ran second leg for Kellenberg. “I like catching people. This race is amazing. Just being on the track.”
The team said they wanted to run faster and thought they would in the final. They ran 7:51.50 in the trials Friday. “We definitely wanted to run faster. We thought with only 12 people in the race that it would be much easier. There were a lot more people in the race Friday. This is only our second time running 4x800 this season so we know we can go faster.”
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.
