Johnson Making Strides for the Crimson Tide
10/8/2008 12:00:00 AM
Oct. 8, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Newcomer Kelsey Johnson is part of a women's cross country program well into the growing process. The team itself has drastically improved from last year even with the squad being without its top two returners thus far into the season. Part of the reason Johnson came to The University of Alabama is because she wanted to be a piece of the puzzle in a growing program.
"I could see that Coach Hasenbank wanted to accomplish big things in the future and I really wanted to be a part of that," Johnson said. "I absolutely love everything about this place."
Johnson has been the second fastest runner for the Crimson Tide in 2008 behind fellow freshman Sara Vaughn all season. In the fourth week of the season, Johnson was named SEC Freshman of the Week while Vaughn was named SEC Athlete of the Week for the second straight week.
Johnson also placed third at the Crimson Classic in front of the home fans and her family and friends.
"All of this feels surreal," Johnson said. "It was amazing to finish third at our home meet because it was the first time that my parents saw me run in my Alabama uniform and I wanted to do well for them and also for all the fans that came out to support us."
Johnson's goals for her first cross country season are to run well at the SEC Championships and long term to run at the NCAA Championships. She would like the team to eventually qualify for the NCAA Championships, something the team hasn't done since 1994.
"This year, I would really like to place in the top 15 at SEC's," Johnson said. " As a team, as long as we keep working hard and stay healthy, it shouldn't be out of the question to place well at the SEC and regional meet and eventually make it to nationals as a team."
The Crimson Tide women and Johnson will toe the line again in two weeks at the Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 18. The meet will be hosted by The University of Arkansas and will include many top teams in the SEC, region and nation.
