Grant Johnson places 5th in Decathlon Nationals, earns All-American!

Grant Johnson in Houston Texas at the AAU Junior Olympic Games National Track and Field Championship. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Johnson.

by Sara Swanson

Manchester teen and soon-to-be senior at Manchester High School Grant Johnson competed last weekend, July 26 and 27, in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games National Track and Field Championship in Houston, Texas, placing fifth and making him All-American!

If you have read our coverage of the Manchester High School track and field team over the previous school year, you probably already know Grant’s name. He’s a hurdler for Manchester track and runs cross-country. In June he competed in the AAU regional meet in the decathlon. A decathlon is 10 track and field events over two days and the better you perform in each event, the higher you score. Though it was his first ever, he won, which qualified him for the AAU Junior Olympic Games National Track and Field Championship.

The competition was physically challenging beyond the events themselves as there was a 106-degree heat index, and the last day took 12 hours. Grant’s day one events and stats were 100-11.78 long jump 19’3, shot put 34’8, high jump 5’3, and 400 meter 50.66. He came back on day two with 110 hurdles 15.43, discus 121’2, pole vault 9’ .25”, javelin 129’2, and 1,500 meter (which he won!) 4:25. He was 14th heading into the 1,500 and by winning it, he rose into fifth place, making him All-American!

Good job, Grant!

Grant Johnson competing at the National Track and Field Championship. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Johnson.

Grant Johnson placed fifth at the National Track and Field Championship last weekend in Houston, Texas. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Johnson.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.