Dream season on track

BY: TRACEY JAGNEAUX
Sports Editor

Former Pine Prairie track star and recent McNeese State University graduate, Simone Johnson, took her talent on the road competing in the NCAA National Championship preliminary. The preliminary event was held on May 28-30 in Jacksonville, Florida and determined who would advance on to the National Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 10-13.
Despite a valiant effort in the 100 meter dash and the long jump at the preliminary, Johnson’s performance in both events was not quite enough to qualify for the NCAA championships.
Even though she did not qualify for the championships in June, Johnson has had a tremendous season on the oval. Johnson earned the Female High Point Scorer award at the Southland Conference meet in May after accumulating 27.25 total points at the championship event. She won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash, the long jump and as a member of the 400-meter relay. Johnson also placed fourth in the 200 meter dash. Coincidentally, one of Johnson’s teammates on the gold medal winning relay team is no other than former Bulldog track athlete Megan Moore. This is not Johnson’s first brush with gold. She has been a part of the conference champion 400-meter relay team the last three years.
Johnson’s time of 11.55 seconds in the 100 meters is the second fastest mark in McNeese history. Her 200 meter time of 24.21 matched the fifth fastest in school history. Johnson was also named the Southland Conference’s Outstanding Female in running events in conjunction with the all-conference team. She was also placed on the first team all-conference in the three events in which she won gold.
Part of her success this past season, according to Johnson, is the newest addition to the coaching staff at McNeese.
“Our new sprint coach, Catherine Hoskins, has been great,” stated Johnson. “I had been making some progress the last few seasons, but not what I thought I should have. Coach Hoskins has really helped me to come into my own this past season. She has been a major factor in my performance this year.”
This season was Johnson’s fourth year competing for the blue and gold. She redshirted her outdoor season of her freshman year because of an injury, but has been on the track for the most part of her college career. During that time Johnson has had to learn how to transition from high school to college.
“It was hard to adjust from high school to college,” said Johnson. “First of all I had to get use to competing indoors my freshman year, since I did not have a lot of experience running indoors in high school. It was also a change academically. I had to learn how to manage my time between study, practice and study hall. I also had to learn on the fly how to schedule classes around practice.”
Apparently Johnson has learned well how to become an exceptional student-athlete. She graduated in May from McNeese with a degree in health promotion. Johnson will take that degree and expand on it beginning in August as she is slated to begin graduate school.
“My plan is to finish my graduate degree in health promotion next June,” Johnson announced with a smile. “After graduate school, I will be attending Texas Chiropractic College in Pasedena, Texas. I have already been accepted, but I have deferred my acceptance until next year.”
Until that time, Johnson will have one more chance to repeat her 2015 performance. Because of her redshirt status in outdoors her freshman year, Johnson has one more outdoor season of eligibility left, and she plans to make the most of it in 2016. Johnson disclosed her plans leading up to the spring track competitions.
“I will be in the weight room this summer trying to get stronger,” commented Johnson. “In the fall, I plan to participate in some indoor meets as an unattached runner. Hopefully, I can stay in form before the outdoor season.”
When asked what would be the one thing she would need to work on before she competes again for the Cowboys, Johnson was quick to respond.
“I need to work on the mental part my game,” Johnson said emphatically. “Physically, I know I will be good. A lot about running track is mental and that needs to be as sharp as possible.” One thing is for sure, the sky is the limit for the former Lady Panther.