BRIAN JOHNSON
Events: Long jump
Height: 6-5
Weight: 200
PR: 8.33m/27-4 (2005)
Born: March 5, 1980
Current Residence: Baton Rouge, La.
High School: Iowa HS (La) '97
Colleges: Southern University (La) '02
Coach: Johnny Thomas
Agent: Daniel Escamilla
Club: Nike

Career Highlights: 2008 Olympic Trials runner-up; 2006 USA Outdoor Champion; Two-time USA Indoor champion (’05 & ’06); 2007 runner-up at USA Indoors; 3rd at 2005 USA Outdoor Championships; 2003 NCAA Indoor Champion; 3rd at 2001 & 2002 NCAA Outdoor Champs

Johnson qualified for his first ever Olympic Team with his runner-up finish at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials – Track & Field in Eugene, Ore., Johnson’s impressive 2007 season resulted in the second year-end Track & Field News world ranking of his career as he ended the campaign ranked #6 globally in the men’s long jump. His 2007 season was highlighted by wins at Baton Rouge and Rethymno, where he posted his best mark of the season of 8.31meters/27-3.25. Johnson enjoyed a banner season in 2006, highlighted by victories at the AT&T USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, and ending the season ranked #3 in the U.S. by Track & Field News. Three years after suffering a devastating knee injury, the former Southern University All American became a world class long jumper when he captured the 2005 USA Indoor title, later that summer Johnson placed third at the USA Outdoor Championships with a leap of 8.09m26-6.5. That effort qualified him for a spot on the Team USA roster for the 2005 World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki, where he barely missed qualifying for the final. Injured in April 2003, Johnson suffered two torn ligaments in his knee…Prior to his injury Johnson was the 2003 NCAA Indoor champion 8.28m/27-2. With the victory, Johnson joined former Southern standouts Theron Lewis and Rod Milburn as the only Jaguars to win titles in the 39-year history of the NCAA indoor meet...Johnson’s championship jump was, at that time, the nation’s leading performance and the third longest jump in the world, 27 feet. He later won the Black College National Championships in Bethesda, Md., and won the Texas Relays long jump with a leap of 26 feet, 5 inches…Unfortunately, on that winning jump he injured his knee and was out for the rest of the year. A political science major at Southern University…married to Pamela, they have a son, Kobe.

2008: 22nd in qualifying at Olympic Games (7.79m/25-6.75)…2nd at Olympic Trials (8.30m/27-02.75)…5th at Bislett Games Oslo (8.12)…best of 8.30m/27-2.75.
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).

09/18/08