Michael Johnson Classic

World's Best to Throw Down in Waco

World's Best to Throw Down in Waco

Apr 17, 2015 by Meg Bellino
World's Best to Throw Down in Waco


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The state of Texas will be well represented at the 2015 Michael Johnson Classic, hosted by Baylor, and LIVE on FloTrack this Saturday, April 18. Top sprinters, field event athletes, and even some of the best distance stars will throw it down in Waco, TX. Here’s what you simply cannot miss:

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase - 5:00pm CT
Baylor’s Rachel Johnson is coming off her best indoor season, finishing runner-up in the NCAA 5k and sixth in the 3k. After running 33:11.98 in the Stanford 10k (Her FIRST 10k ever), she’s ready to tackle her main event. The third-place finisher from NCAAs, fifth-place finisher at the USATF Championships and NACAC U-23 Champion is the fittest she has ever been, setting PBs in both events at the NCAA indoor championship. Only two ladies have broken 10:00 so far this season, and it’ll be interesting to see how she handles running solo in this weaker field. However, her fitness and consistency indicate she’s ready for her fastest opener yet. (PS she opened with 9:49.31 last season!)

Women’s 400m - 6:10pm CT
The Longhorn and Aggie rivalry will be in full force in section six, the fastest of of six 400m heats. Led by former Longhorn and 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Sanya Richards-Ross, outdoor collegiate record-holder Courtney Okolo, and No. 10 NCAA All-Time Kendall Baisden, the burnt orange will be tested by 2014 NCAA and World Junior 400m hurdle champion Shamier Little. Little recorded the fastest indoor mark in the NCAA this winter before finishing fourth at the championships. This will be a season opener in the event for these four, and Richards-Ross opened up in this event two weeks later in 2014 with a 51.62 (before ending her season with the No. 2 time in the world, 49.66). Either way, bragging rights are on the line between the fastest ladies in the NCAA and one of the fastest ladies in the world.

Men’s 100m/200m - 6:55pm/7:30pm CT
The reigning NCAA 100m champion Trayvon Bromell will welcome a stacked field to his home track in the 100m and 200m. In the 100m, Bromell will go head-to-head with 2015 NCAA 60m champion Ronnie Baker, 2013 NCAA Champion Charles Silmon, 2013 Canadian World Bronze medalist Justyn Warner, Texas A&M NCAA Champion Shavez Hart, Big 12 Champion Senoj-Jay Givans of Texas, and NCAA No. 8 Quentin Butler of Texas-Arlington, just to name a few. How many will go under 10 seconds?! The 200m field is similar, plus former Aggie Aldrich Bailey Jr., now running unattached before starting his Texas Longhorn eligibility. The question of the weekend? Can Bromell run a world leading time in the 200? His 20.19 from indoor was the fastest indoor mark in the world. His outdoor best is only 20.59 (from this meet in 2014), so all eyes will be on this field to see just how fast Bromell can go. 


"Lessons before blessings" -Trayvon Bromell

Men’s 400m - 6:10pm CT
The return of Jeremy Wariner! We all saw his 800m race from a few weeks back, now he’s opening up in his signature event, the 400. He’ll be in good company, too. The reigning NCAA outdoor champ Deon Lendore is in the field. He ran 45.18 last weekend in his outdoor debut, losing to Kirani James and teammate Bralon Taplin. Racing against former teamate Aldrich Bailey Jr. and one of the fastest men to ever run this event, Wariner, we predict we’ll have a new NCAA leader after this race. The big question is what time can Wariner produce? His personal best, 43.45 and the third-fastest mark of all time, is from his 2007 World Title. His last outdoor 400 race was in 2013, a 45.35. He says he feels strong. And I guess we’ll all have the privilege to see just how strong he is against Lendore this Saturday evening.