June 26, 2008

House, the Southwestern Athletic Conference indoor and outdoor champion this season, is coming off of his second consecutive trip to the NCAA Outdoor Nationals. House claimed the SWAC outdoor title in May, with a leap of 7 feet, 1 inch, which had him tied for second in the Mideast Region.

House finished 13th at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa.

Former SU Jaguar two-sport athlete, Brian Johnson, will head into this weekend's US Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR as the US's number one ranked long jumper.

Former Jaguar, Brian Johnson

Johnson has three of the top seven jumps in the world this year and enters the meet with the top wind-legal mark of 27-2 3/4. He was the 2006 USA Outdoor champion and was part of the 2005 World Championships team. He ranks fourth in the world.

"It would mean the world for me to make it," Johnson said. "I feel like I'm ready. My training has been good and I'm healthy.

"I've been in big meets before. The key for me is not to put too much pressure on myself. I need to relax and do what I'm capable of."

Although Johnson trains with former LSU assistant Boo Schexnayder and is seeking his first berth on the U.S. team, Brian says he is dedicating his performance to SU head Track Coach, Johnny Thomas. Thomas has been ill for some time now, and has taken a leave of absence from SU.

Johnson's Year-by-Year Track Accomplishments:
2008: 5th at Bislett Games Oslo (8.12)
2007: 5th at US Outdoor Championships (8.11m/26-7.25)...2nd at USA Indoors (8.03m/26-4.25)...2nd at Rethymno (8.31m/27-3.25)...3rd at Nike Prefontaine Classic (8.11m/26-7.25)...ranked #6 in world, #2 U.S. by T&FN...best of 8.31m/ 27-3.25...best of 8.31m/ 27-3.25.
2006: USA Outdoor Champion (8.10m/26-7)...USA Indoor champion (7.95m/26-1)...1st at Xalapa (8.24m/27-0.5)...4th at Nike Prefontaine Classic (7.89m/25-10.75)...11th at Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis (7.64m/25-0.75)...12th at Golden Gala (7.28m/23-10.75)...ranked #3 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 8.24m/27-0.5.
2005: 1st at USA Indoor Champs (7.89m/25-10.75)...3rd at USA Outdoor Champs (8.08m/26-6.5)...10th in Group B qualifying at World Outdoor Champs (7.91m/25-11.5)...1st at Payton Jordan U.S. Open (8.17m/26-9.75)...1st at Bad Langensalza (8.33m/27-4)...ranked #9 in world (#3 U.S.) by T&FN...best of 8.33m/27-4.
2004: 4th at 2004 USA Indoor Champs (7.51m/24-7.75).
2003: Injured in April-did not compete for the rest of the season...NCAA Indoor Champion (8.28m/27-2).
2002: 3rd at NCAA Outdoor Champs (7.96m/26-1.5).
2001: 3rd at NCAA Outdoor Champs (8.06m/26-5.5).
2000: 19th at NCAA Champs (6.27m/20-07).

Returning to one of the most hallowed sites in the sport, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials will return in 2008 to Hayward Field, site of the '72, '76 and '80 Olympic Trials. The country's most prestigious pre-Olympic event, the Olympic Trials is where the roster for Team USA will be selected for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Eugene has long been dubbed "Track Town, USA" for its rich track and field history and the community's appreciation of the sport. The Nike Prefontaine Classic regularly draws standing-room-only crowds, while athletes consistently rate Hayward Field as having one of the most compelling atmospheres of any stadium in the world.

The largest national championship track meet in the world, the U.S. Olympic Trials hosts more than 1,000 athletes as they compete for the right to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games. More than 350,000 fans attended the last two Olympic Trials in Sacramento, and at each edition of the meet, more than 1,000 members of the media from around the world covered the event while thousands of volunteers and officials provided support.