Johnson & Co. Compete in
LI Invitational
Huntington High School senior Tyriek Johnson warmed up for the state track and field championships with a fine performance in last Saturday's Long Island Track & Field Invitational at St. Anthony's High School.
The meet drew a field of talented athletes, including state qualifiers from Suffolk, Nassau and LI Catholic high schools, but the day clearly belonged to Johnson, one of the all-time great Blue Devils.
Johnson was seeded second in the long jump behind Miller Place's Adam Devito, who had edged him in the Section XI state qualifier one week earlier. But, on this day, Johnson soared 22'3.25 in his first jump to lead the field. "Devito fouled his first attempt and then managed to get a jump in of 21'4 to make the finals," said Ronald Wilson, Huntington's head coach. "Devin Mirenda of Smithtown West jumped 21'6.25 for runner-up."
In the finals, Johnson reigned supreme. "What looked like a jump of 23' or more was cut down to 22' when his hand slipped a little behind him and that's where they measured his jump," Wilson said. "The official looked at me and said that was an easy 23' or more had his hand not slipped behind him when he landed in the pit." No opponent could top Johnson's performance, so the crown went to the Blue Devil great.
Johnson's memorable day was far from over. "I had him pass his second and third attempts in the [long jump] finals to prepare for the hurdles, which was to go off very soon," Wilson said. In the 55m high hurdles trial, Johnson ran a swift 7.53 seconds uncontested. Things got even better for him in the finals. Despite striking the second and fifth hurdles, Johnson crossed the finish line first in 7.51 breaking the two-year old meet record and the field house record of 7.69 set by Amityville's Sancho Barrettt.
"When the pamphlet with all the records was being passed out, a confident Johnson came to me and said 'Coach, I'm not being cocky or anything like that, but I will break this record today, running 7.4.' Let me tell you, he did just that. He should have run 7.4, but hit two hurdles and in the track and field world we know that slows you down."
In a scene becoming all too familiar, a group of officials, parents and athletes surrounded Johnson and offered congratulations for his impressive victories. The teenager will head to the state meet at Cornell University in Ithaca this Friday as he attempts to win medals in both the 55m high hurdles and long jump during Saturday's competition.
In other LI Invitational action, Huntington senior Trayvon Toney again improved upon his previous personal best in the shot put with a throw of 49'10.5 to place sixth. Junior Shaheem Lewis placed 13th in the same even with a throw of 45'5.5.
Senior Ryan Ackerman was expected to run the 600m dash, but was a late scratch after experiencing some lower back cramps according to Wilson.