Colorado State University Athletics
Johnson In 14th After Day One
6/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Outdoor Track & Field
June 7, 2006
Colorado State junior Kevin Johnson is in 14th place after the first day of the decathlon competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Junior Nate Heyrman, senior Katie Hansen and senior Matt McKinney did not advance to the finals.
Johnson started the day with an 11.47 in the 100 meters, then jumped 23-1.75 in the long jump to move into sixth place. After a throw of 40-3.5 in the shot put, Johnson cleared 6-2.25 in the high jump and ran a 51.40 in the 400 meters to end the day with 3,664 points and put himself in 14th place. Johnson came in seeded 24th in the decathlon. The NCAA record holder in the decathlon, Trey Hardee from Texas leads after day one with 4,311 points.
"I think today went all right," said Johnson. "It's not what I would have liked, I did better at the Mountain West Championship, but I'm in the middle of the pack. I've moved up some (from my seed) and I'm hoping for some good stuff tomorrow."
Heyrman placed 22nd with a throw of 199-11 in the hammer, and does not advance to the finals. Mattias Jons from Boise State leads after the preliminaries with a throw of 227-3, while the defending champion, Spyridon Jullien of Virginia Tech is second at 223-8.
Hansen ended in 25th in the discus, throwing 155-0 and Southern Illinois senior Amarachi Ukabam leads after the preliminaries with a throw of 181-3.
"(My career) Was a rough ride with a few bright spots," said Hansen. "It was a struggle and a fight, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. I've been blessed to throw with Coach B. (Brian Bedard) and have had awesome teammates. It was an all out fight from the beginning with more frustrating points than high points it seems."
McKinney finished 11th in the first flight and ends his one-year career with the Rams.
"Physically I feel great," McKinney stated. "My start felt good, I just got a little overanxious and rushed the finish instead of relaxing through it."
Johnson finishes the decathlon tomorrow, while senior Jaimee Troth will throw in the preliminaries of the hammer. On Friday and Saturday, junior Katie Lloyd will compete in the heptathlon.