ASU’s Johnson begins chase for Olympic glory

Jacquelyn Johnson enjoyed exclusive residence at the heptathlon winner’s podium during her years at Arizona State, so it’s difficult to fathom that she considers herself a better follower than leader.

“It’s always good to be chasing somebody,” the four-time NCAA champion said. “Yeah, I spend a lot of time in front, but I’m always chasing myself. Over the years, it’s made me more hungry to chase. …

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“When I have that person right in front of me that I can inch ahead of, watch out.”

The heptathlon competition at the Olympic Games in Beijing begins today. Johnson will resume her chase, a constant pursuit to top herself, as well as the obvious hunt for Olympic glory not experienced by the United States in the event since Jackie Joyner-Kersee won gold in 1988 and ’92.

It might not happen for Johnson, a 23-year-old Yuma native, at this, her first Games. But some in the sport believe that it eventually can.

“She definitely has that kind of ability,” said 1996 decathlon gold-medal winner Dan O’Brien, a volunteer assistant track coach at ASU who is shadowing Johnson in Beijing.

The two-day competition in seven events — 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200, long jump, javelin throw and 800 — is wide open because the defending Olympic and world champion, Carolina Kluft of Sweden, opted to concentrate on other events.

American Hyleas Fountain, whose 6,667 points at the U.S. Olympic Trials is the top score in the world this year, is a favorite, as is Lyudmila Blonska of Ukraine. The other U.S. competitor in Beijing is Diana Pickler, a Pac-10 rival of Johnson’s at Washington State.

Johnson won her first NCAA championship in 2004 by beating Fountain, who then competed for the University of Georgia.

“I’m not worried about other athletes,” said Johnson, whose score of 6,347 at the trials was a personal best. “I just worry about what I have to do. In the heptathlon, you have that luxury a lot. If I execute everything and do what I’m supposed to, I’ll do well, guaranteed. It will be just like practice.”

The throwing events have been considered the weakest part of her routine, but Johnson had some of her better performances at the trials. She uncorked a shot put of 42 feet, 5 1/2 inches — a personal best — to go with a javelin throw of 156-6.

She and O’Brien believe there is enough room for improvement in the throws to get her in contention for the medal stand.

“When you size her up against the Europeans, they are good in the long jump, javelin and 800,” O’Brien said. “That’s what Americans haven’t done well, come out on the second day and be a world-class long jumper, throw 160 feet in the javelin and run a 2:10 in the 800. I think she’s capable.”

O’Brien won gold in Atlanta in 1996, but he also experienced a high-profile failure at the 1992 trials. He’s been waiting for a chance to share his wisdom from that experience with Johnson.

So far, O’Brien said, Johnson hasn’t needed it.

“She hasn’t stumbled,” O’Brien said. “There have been times in the last two years where she could have said that she doesn’t have it today and can’t get it done. But she fights, and that’s the most impressive thing for her.”

Dominating the collegiate ranks has not been a complete breeze for Johnson. She won the second of her three NCAA indoor pentathlon titles on an ankle that was still weak following surgery.

“Of all the things she’s won, that’s the most impressed I’ve been with her,” ASU track coach Greg Kraft said. “She really had no business winning that championship, but she had personal bests in the hurdles, shot put and 800.

“She was just on a mission. It was a phenomenal display of competitiveness. Her will to win was incredible.”

Facing the stiffest competition of her life, Johnson is preparing to summon every ounce of that drive.

The novelty of being in Beijing has worn off. The chase is back on.

“I’ve been keeping the same routine I had in college,” Johnson said. “I’m not trying to overwhelm myself. I don’t want to be too anxious. …

“I guess I can consider myself an Olympian, since I made the team. But I won’t really be one until I compete. When that happens, I need to make sure I’m in the best shape, because I’ll be against the best in the world.”