Johnston Medals at Junior Olympics

Drake Johnston figured that it would be difficult to achieve his personal bests if it was as hot as expected in Wichita, Kansas, for the National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships.

As it turned out, the conditions were even worse than predicted for the five-day competition held Tuesday through Sunday at Cessna Stadium on the campus of Wichita State. The temperature ranged between 122 and 130 degrees on the track, yet neither the oppressive heat nor a field of top-notch talent prevented Johnston from returning home with medals around his neck.

Johnston, who is going into his junior year at , did not break his personal best marks, but he ran All-American times in each of his three events and took home the silver medal for second place in the Intermediate Boys division of the 2000 Meter Steeplechase.

On Tuesday morning, the 16-year-old from Santa Monica clocked six minutes, 40.04 seconds in his first event of the week, the 2000 Meter steeplechase, which was won by Jackson Bertoli from Terre Haute, Indiana, in 6:30.79.

Despite the weather, Johnston dropped more than 18 seconds off his winning time at the Regional Junior Olympics in Escondido in June. He ran a personal-best 6:29.08 at the USATF Youth Outdoor National Championships held June 28-July 3 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

On Thursday morning, in the first event of the day, Johnston placed seventh in the 3000 Meters in 9:16.98, much faster than the 9:38.37 he clocked at the Regional meet. Blair Hurlock of Pleasanton Heat Running Club in Northern California took the gold medal Thursday in 8:55.62--the only runner under nine minutes. Johnston's best time at the distance is 9:13.63, also achieved at the Outdoor Nationals.

In the 1500 Meter preliminary race Friday morning, where the top 15 runners advanced to the finals, Johnston ran 4:18.18 and was the ninth qualifier. Spencer Haik of Springfield Track Club in Ohio had the fastest qualifying time at 4:07.13.

In the 1500 finals Sunday afternoon, Johnston improved by two places and cut nearly eight seconds off his qualifying time, finishing seventh in 4:10.85. Haik won the gold medal in 4:05.74 but Johnston bettered his Regional time (4:22.15) significantly. He ran 4:09.08 at the Outdoor Nationals--his fastest 1500 time yet.

Johnston had set lofty goals of 4:05 or lower in the 1500, under nine minutes in the 3000 and near the national sophomore record of 6:02 in the steeplechase at JOs, but given the sweltering condititions it was a strong showing for Johnston, who ran for his club team, the South Orange County Wildcats of Aliso Viejo.

Johnston now sets his sights on the upcoming cross country season, which he hopes will culminate in a City Section team championship for he and his fellow Dolphins.