KEETON JOHNSON THROWS UP THE 3'S AT THE 2024 LHSAA CLASS 4A STATE OUTDOOR MEET
As Leesville's Keeton Johnson crossed the line in the boys' 1600m at the 2024 LHSAA Class 4A State Outdoor Championships last May, he held up his left arm and raised three fingers in the air. It was a reminder for all of those watching at LSU's Bernie Moore Stadium, on the number of state championships the Wampus Cat has won.
Now, Johnson is into his senior season at Leesville, and while there is still a goal of continuing his streak with a fourth-straight LHSAA state championship in the 1600m, he has his sights on a different race-the 800m.
Thursday, at Mansfield's Wolverine Relays Johnson won the 1600m with a 4:38. His last lap was a 1:02.
Later in the meet, Johnson returned in the 800m where he battled Airline's Jayden Williams. Johnson finished with a time of 1:55.35. Williams came through with a 1:55.86.
Currently, those times are No. 2 and No. 4 in the state of Louisiana. Parkview Baptist's Aiden Monistere owns the fastest 800m time with a 1:54.38 at the Griffin Relays in his outdoor opener last week.
No. 3 on the list in Calvary's Jackson Burney, who watched Thursday's race. Burney ran a 1:55.82 at Texas A&M's Bluebonnet High School Invitational.
While it was not a personal record for Johnson, who ran a 1:54.31 in a fifth-place finish at RunningLane in Huntsville, Alabama late last May, it was an indication that the focus on the event is paying early dividends.
It was a personal record for Williams, who is creeping up on the school record held by Mansfield head coach Mychal Word.
LOUISIANA'S ALL-TIME 800M LIST FOR JUNIOR BOYS!
"He is getting there," Word said after sitting behind the timers with McDuffie Timing and watching the time pop up on the laptop, "I never ran that fast this early."
Williams' time is No. 22 on the all-time 800m list for juniors. Johnson's 800m last year is No. 11 on the list.
RACE VIDEO: Watch Leesville's Keeton Johnson win his third consecutive LHSAA Class 4A State Championship in the 800m.
