Johnson is 5th in State Long Jump Championship
There always seems to be a surprise whenever Tyriek Johnson laces up his spikes. The Huntington High School senior finished fifth in the long jump at the state track and field championships in Cornell last Saturday. He also dazzled the crowd with a lightning fast performance in the preliminary round of the 55m hurdles before a pulled hamstring knocked him out of the finals.
Johnson won the Suffolk title in both events and was viewed as the odds-on favorite in the 55m hurdles. But, instead of capturing the gold medal, this will always be known as the weekend of what "could have been."
While practicing the long jump in Cornell's Barton Hall Friday night, disaster struck. "Tyriek took one jump in the pit and somehow managed to step on his hand and one of the spikes from his shoe tore a hole in his finger on the left hand," said Ron Wilson, Huntington's head coach.
"From there things managed to get worse because we spent 5½ hours in the emergency room at Cayuga Medical Center," Wilson said. "We all grew so impatient that we asked for some bandages to just wrap it up ourselves, but good thing we didn't go with our instinct because the injury to his finger needed several stitches."
Johnson was back at his hotel by 11:30 p.m. for as good a night's sleep as he could manage. On Saturday morning, Wilson was notified by a Section XI representative that Johnson had been chosen as the Suffolk athlete to receive the New York State Public High School Athletic Assn. sportsmanship award. "Each section submits an athlete to receive the prestigious award," Wilson said. "They paraded around the track during the opening ceremonies and were then separately called out for recognition."
Seeded 10th in the long jump, Johnson went right to work once the competition began. "Our plan was to take two jumps in the trials and if he makes the finals take another," Wilson said. "He's been using the long jump as a way to warm up for the hurdles. It's worked all season long."
Johnson's best jump in the trials measured 21'6. It was good enough to qualify for the finals. On his first attempt in the finals, the senior soared 21'6.75. "He passed on his remaining two jumps to get ready for the hurdles," Wilson said. When the finals were completed, Johnson had placed fifth in the NYSPHSAA standings and sixth in the State Federation, which includes athletes from the PSAL and Catholic high schools.
55m Hurdles is Signature Event
Johnson's signature event is the 55m hurdles and he appeared ready to claim the state crown. In the preliminary round, his start was not without difficulty, but he kicked into high gear quickly and swept past the field, crossing the finish line in 7.41 seconds to set a new Blue Devil record. The time was nearly one-fifth of a second faster than anyone else could muster in the 34 man field, a remarkable feat.
When Huntington assistant coach Eli Acosta saw Johnson's time he was pumped, as was the teenager himself. "He was so excited about the time he had just run and so were the Suffolk officials that were there," Wilson said. "You have to know that this kid is loved by all. They enjoy seeing him compete. They see him and they greet him with a handshake and if you're Patty Knapp (an official), you greet him with a hug. And they do this before even speaking to me."
Tide Turned Quickly
As has happened in sports since caveman days, it wasn't long before the tide abruptly turned against the Blue Devils. Johnson finished the semi-finals in sixth place in a time of 7.73 seconds, crossing the finish line holding his right hamstring.
"I knew his bid to be state champion was over," Wilson said. "I quickly went to him and escorted him to the trainer's office. He was in pain both from injury and from not being able to continue. The tears that flowed out of his eyes weren't from the pain, but from not being able to continue. We had to go to the clerking area and scratch him from the finals."
Wilson said it was amazing that Johnson managed to qualify for the finals running on one hamstring. "Patty, the official, was the clerk and her head dropped in disbelief," Wilson said. "She was concerned about his injury. It was devastating and heart-breaking to see such a gifted young man in so much pain and frustration. This was the second time Barton Hall denied him a run in the finals!"
Oswego junior Cory Keefe won the 55m hurdles state crown, running a 7.49 in the finals. It was hard for the Huntington contingent to watch the race. Johnson suffered the same heartbreak as a junior.
"Last year his left hamstring popped causing him not to finish," Wilson said about the 2011 state meet. "As a coach you hate to see any athlete go through that. Tyriek must have apologized to me five times saying 'Sorry for letting you down coach.' I told him that he was mistaken. I told him he didn't let me or anyone else down. My last words to him Saturday night were that we all love him and that no injury or loss will ever change that."