SEATTLE – Two weeks after becoming the first NAIA high jumper of the year to clear seven feet, freshman Anthony Johnson (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS) was at it again on Saturday, clearing 7-2.25 to take second in the men’s high jump at the UW Invitational at Dempsey Indoor on the campus of University of Washington.
In addition to improving his national best in the event, Johnson hit the qualifying standard for the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships which will be held later this month in Albuquerque, N.M. His jump currently ties him for ninth-best among collegians this season at all levels and 14th by any American in 2014.
Johnson cleared 2.19m on this third attempt to improve his school record by two inches in the event as he defeated eight NCAA Division I high jumpers to finish second to only two-time Olympian Mike Mason, who won the even with a jump of 6-3.25.
He wasn’t the only Geoducks to post a strong performance as junior Wes Jones (Tacoma, Wash./Mt. Tahoma HS) placed second in his heat and sixth overall in the 800m run, posting a time of 1:57.52. The event was won by Travis Vugteveen of Simon Fraser, who ran a 1:54.56 in the third heat to pull past Demetrius Rhodes of Concordia.
The Geoducks will race again on Tuesday night when they head south for the UP/PSU Tuesday Night Races at the University of Portland.