Runner gets another chance to cement his legacy

UNM distance runner Jeremy Johnson successfully petitioned the NCAA for an extra season of eligibility due to medical hardship and will compete for the Lobos in 2008.

by STEVEN FERNANDEZ

Jeremy Johnson got a call from his head coach on March 27, telling him they needed to talk.

Johnson, a distance runner for the University of New Mexico, was waiting to hear if he would be granted an extra season of eligibility. Because coach Joe Franklin’s tone sounded somber on the message, Johnson expected to hear bad news.

Instead, Franklin informed him that the NCAA accepted his medical hardship petition, meaning Johnson’s wish for one more collegiate season was granted.

“When I heard his message, my stomach dropped,” Johnson said. “I didn’t think I got it. It went from being like a total letdown to an absolute joyful mood.”

Johnson, one of the best Lobo distance runners in school history, successfully petitioned the NCAA last year after an injury-plagued collegiate career was supposed to be finished.

The extra season of eligibility, which will be used this spring, will help Johnson cement his legacy at UNM.

“Nobody is more deserving than Jeremy Johnson,” Franklin said. “I think the sky’s the limit for him now.”

The Albuquerque native has already compiled a fine career as a UNM cross country and track and field athlete.

He had his finest year in 2007, earning All-American honors twice.
During the 2007 outdoor season, he placed seventh in the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA Championships.

He was superb during the 2007 cross country season as well, winning the Mountain West Conference Championships and capping the year with a 20th-place finish at the NCAAs.

While he isn’t satisfied with the All-American honors, Johnson said he is happy to have crossed out one of his goals.

“It’s finally happened, so I can take that off my list,” he said.

Now, Johnson is focused on accomplishing more this sping.

He missed last weekend’s Mt Sac Relays due to coming down with the flu, but will make his debut at this weekend’s Brutus Hamilton Invitational in Berkeley, Calif.

Because Johnson got off to a late start during the 2008 season, he joins the team less than a month away from the MWC Championships, beginning on May 14.

Johnson said he is just pleased to know he gets to put the ending he wants on his UNM career following a 2007 season when his future was still up in the air.

“It really puts a good closure on my UNM career,” he said. “Definitely a good bit of closure.”

Johnson said he is also thrilled to re-join a UNM team that has flourished under Franklin.

On April 10, the UNM women debuted at No. 24 in the national rankings. The Lobo women have five athletes ranked in the top 10 in their respective events and two in the top five.

On the men’s side, fellow distance runner Lee Emmanuel clocked the fastest time nationally in the 1,500 last weekend at Arizona State.

“I think we have a great team this year,” Johnson said. “We’re expected to have tons and tons of regional qualifiers. Being able to share is absolutely wonderful. It’s not just good for me. That’s why it’s such a good thing. That’s why it means so much more.”

As for individual goals, Johnson said he has set a few. He wants to improve his placing at the NCAAs and said he has his sights set on a couple UNM records and hopes to compete in the 2008 Olympic Trials.

Johnson certainly didn’t have the easiest path on his way to becoming an All-American at UNM.

He had a standout career at Manzano High School in Albuquerque, despite running only in his junior and senior years.

He signed with UNM in 2002 and opened his college career with three straight top-20 finishes before injuries took a toll on him.

Johnson transferred to Arizona in 2004 but suffered a broken leg, and doctors told him his running career was probably over. His appeal to the NCAA was based on the 2004 outdoor season.

Johnson talked to Matt Henry, who was the UNM head coach at the time, and was welcomed back to the team. He had to sit out a semester due to NCAA transfer rules, but he worked his way back into solid running shape.

Johnson said he will always be grateful to the UNM coaches who gave him another chance.

“Coach Henry gave me a great opportunity where other people almost gave up on me,” he said. “Coming back to UNM, they gave me a great opportunity, and they had hope in me still. That means a lot.”

When he returned to the Lobos full time in 2006, Johnson recorded three top-five finishes in cross country but fell short of qualifying for the NCAA Championships after coming down with the flu the day before the NCAA Mountain Regional Championships.

Johnson rebounded to have a stellar campaign on the track. He finished runner-up in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter run at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships before going on to earn All-America honors during the outdoor season.

Franklin - who is in his first year at UNM after Henry retired following the 2007 outdoor season - said all the adversity Johnson faced makes his accomplishments that much more impressive.

He said Johnson was able to overcome those hurdles because he is one of the most focused and dedicated runners on the Lobo squad.

“Jeremy does all the little things right,” Franklin said. “I know when he’s done, he will be able to look himself in the mirror and say, ‘I’ve done absolutely everything I could to be great.’”

Looking back at his UNM career so far, Johnson said he’s happy with where it has landed him, despite all the troubles.

“It’s been a long, rocky road,” he said. “Life takes crazy turns sometimes, but that’s part of the ride.”

Written April 24

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