For most freshmen, stepping into varsity track and field can be an adjustment. For Wichita Collegiate’s Jai Johnson, it has quickly turned into a breakout season.
Competing in track and field for the first time, Johnson has emerged as one of the top young athletes in the area, excelling in the long jump and sprint events while helping Wichita Collegiate stay competitive in meets throughout the spring.
“My primary focus this season was to see where I stood among other athletes since this was my first year ever competing in track and field,” Johnson said. “One of my biggest goals was to chase my dad’s school long jump record of 22-foot-9.”
Johnson already has posted a personal-best jump of 21-4 this season, putting him within striking distance of the family record despite being only a freshman.
“As only a freshman, I know I still have plenty of time to improve, and I’m getting better every day with the goal of breaking that record before I graduate,” Johnson said.
Consistency has been one of the biggest reasons for Johnson’s early success. He regularly jumps over 21 feet in the long jump and has consistently found himself near the top of the podium.
Johnson has won four of his six long jump competitions this season while also posting strong times in the sprints, including an 11.00 in the 100-meter dash, 22.4 in the 200 and 52.00 in the 400.
“Some of my strengths are my consistency in the long jump, where I regularly jump 21-3, and my ability to place in the top three or win at nearly every meet,” Johnson said. “My speed is another major strength, and as I continue to develop, I know I’ll only get faster and jump farther.”
Johnson said he takes pride in using those strengths to contribute points for the Spartans in multiple events.
“I use those strengths to help score points for my team and contribute however I can,” Johnson said.
Even with the immediate success, Johnson said there were several areas he focused on improving throughout the season, especially with technique and mechanics.
“This season, I also wanted to improve my block starts and my form in the long jump,” Johnson said. “Early in the season, my starts were not as strong, and I had a tendency to run with my head down. As the season progressed, I focused on correcting those details, and it helped me PR at almost every meet.”
Johnson’s transition into track also came with little preparation time. After helping Wichita Collegiate win a state championship in basketball, he had only a short turnaround before beginning track season.
“Coming from football and basketball, I never really had a true offseason for track,” Johnson said. “After winning a state championship in basketball, I only had about a week or two to recover and prepare for track season, especially since this was my first year competing in the sport.”
Despite the learning curve, Johnson has already established himself as one of Wichita Collegiate’s most versatile athletes. As the postseason approaches, his goals remain centered on team success and continuing to improve on the state stage.
“For me, a successful season would be qualifying for state, placing high in the long jump at state, and helping my team score enough points to compete for a state championship,” Johnson said.
