Johnson pips younger opponents to win at Tyson Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE (Arkansas): A dozen years after winning gold at the Atlanta Olympics, Allen Johnson (pic) was still strong enough to win the 60m hurdles at the Tyson Invitational on Friday.
Johnson, who turns 37 on March 1, recovered from a false start to edge Joel Brown in 7.60.
“Listening to people and watching the people that came before me, I thought when you hit 33, 35 years old, that you feel significantly different than you do at 25,’’ Johnson said.
“So far with me, that’s not been the case.’’
Johnson won the 110m hurdles in the 2006 Atlanta Olympics, then finished fourth in 2000 in Sydney. He went to Athens in 2004, but hit a hurdle and fell during the first round of competition.
Johnson, a four-time outdoor world champion, says he’d like another shot at an Olympic medal in Beijing.
When he won his last one in '96, it was hard to imagine he’d still be competing at this level 12 years later.
“I figured 2004, if I was lucky, that would be my last one – if I made it that far,’’ Johnson said. “Here I am, four years after that. I mean, I still feel good.’’
Johnson’s performance didn’t put him among the top times this year, but he ran fast enough to beat Brown, who finished in 7.64.
“I’m taking my time – I’m not really trying to rush anything,’’ Johnson said. “So far, everything is pretty much going according to plans.’’
Wallace Spearmon ended the night with an impressive win in the 200m. Spearmon, third in last year’s world outdoor championships, won in 20.19, narrowly missing his own American record of 20.10 set in 2005.
“(Tonight) was a great opener, but not what I hoped for,’’ Spearmon said.
“When I got to 110m, I felt myself start to lag and get a little tired, so I rested a little bit. I should have just pushed through it.’’
Spearmon also competed in the 60m, finishing fourth.
Carmelita Jeter took the women’s 60m in 7.27. Sanya Richards, a star at 400m, ran in the 60m and finished sixth. – AP
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