Athlete Name: Graham Johnson
School: Eastbrook High School
What was your most memorable meet and why?
Conference championships my sophomore year, because it was my first time winning an individual event for my high school career.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
I always found my greatest competition at indoor state, and regionals.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most and why?
Finishing runner-up in the 4x400 at Indoor State (small schools), and helping my team win its first ever sectionals and then a year later helping them win another.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your running career in high school?
Do everything I could to prevent injury.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome during your HS Track career?
My most difficult obstacle I've had to face in my career is becoming injured my senior year and still coming back to run at sectionals. I had finished my whole regular season undefeated in every running event I attempted (110h, 200, 300h, 400, 4x400, 4x800). I won both hurdles and also the 4x400 at my county championship, and then the next week was my conference championship. I cruised through the prelims in the 110's but when it came to the finals I only made it over 3 hurdles before my right hamstring tightened and I felt pain. I had to pull out of the race and I ended up with a strained hamstring. I had only a week to recover until sectionals, so i took four days of no running and then 3 days slowly building back up. Then coming sectionals I only ran the 300 hurdles and ran a very conservative and careful race and ran through the pain and was still able to get 3rd place and score points for my team, and eventually by the end of the night the team had won sectionals by a very small margin. Every point counts.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my teammates the most, especially my 4x4 squad.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
No matter how bad you think you are, with hard work you can always improve and put yourself on top.
What are your post-high school or college plans?
I will be running track and studying exercise science at Huntington University.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I want to say thank you to my parents and my coaches for always believing in me and always pushing me to be better.
