FRESNO, Calif. – Sophomore Reyna Johnson finished her season doing what she has done all season, breaking the school record and setting new standards. Johnson finished fifth Saturday at the CIF State Track and Field Championships with 14.10 to reset her own school record for the seventh time this season.
"It feel pretty good," said Johnson. "I wanted to run as fast as I can. It means a lot to me."
Head Coach Jett, an elite hurdler himself, was impressed with the effort by his sophomore.
"She executed exactly how we talked about warming up," said Jett, who was a three-time All-American at University of California, Berkeley and national runner-up in the 110 hurdles in 1988. "She was a little frustrated after her race last night. It was not a clean race but she got in. Today I told her to focus on running a clean race and she will go fast and make podium. It is exactly what she did."
Running from lane nine on the outside after qualifying eighth in the trials on Friday, Johnson finished behind only four runners including winner Jazlynn Shearer of Silver Creek who won in 13.24. Cyvanna Bowen (Edison, 13.63), Asjah Atkinson (St. Anthony, 13.93) and Taylor Shorter (Norco (13.99) rounded out the top five with Johnson.
"I was watching from back stretch and I could tell from hurdle three she was going to be right up there," said Jett.
Jett has seen his protégée start the season with a 14.91 personal-best from her freshman season with the school record standing at 14.82. It was set 15 years ago in 2004 by alumna Tifani Grimes.
"She is such a good athlete," said Jett. "I have stopped being surprised by what she does. She has a lot more to go and she is already talking about jumping 19-0 feet next year. She is super competitive and talented. It is the type of athlete you want."
Johnson first set the school record at the Stanford Invitational on March 30, clocking 14.72 on the first day of the meet. The record has since fallen in succession: 14.64 (Stanford Finals), 14.55 (Arcadia Invite), 14.46 (Sacramento MOC), 14.33 (Sections DI) and 14.26 in the Masters Finals in the rain.
"My memory of this season will be running faster," said Johnson. "I have gotten faster over the entire track season. It feels nice to break my record over and over again. It is a great confidence booster."
Johnson's fifth-place finish earned four points for the Troubadours in the team standings.
