Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Kyler Johnson, Chinook Track

It seemed like just yesterday that the warm weather and track season arrived. But starting today, the track postseason gets underway and one local athlete that is ready in earnest for it to begin is Chinook senior Kyler Johnson.

Johnson, a three-sport athlete for the Sugarbeeters, will be one of hundreds of local track athletes converging on the Havre Middle School track today for the 2017 District 9C track meet. The field events got underway this morning.

For Johnson, the annual district meet will be a busy day as he is slated to compete in a total of five events. Mostly, he will be running distance, where he excels the most in events like the 800-meter, the 1,600 and the 3,200, as well as the 1,600 relay. In terms of field events, he will compete in just one, the triple jump.

“It’s going to be an exciting day,” Johnson said. “For me, a big focus is just trying to stay rested. I am in five events and hopefully, I can score some points in all of them.”

While many athletes at the district meet will be looking to wrap up their spot at the Northern C Divisional next week, which requires a top-5 finish, Johnson has already pre-qualified in both the 1,600 and the 3,200, leaving just the 800 and the long relay, which also still need to qualify for divisionals.

However, as the No. 4 seed among 9C runners in the 800, Johnson is one of the favorites to place and advance. In the 1,600 and the 3,200, on the other hand, the Chinook senior has a chance to do much more.

In the 1,600, Johnson is the top seed coming into the meet, with a season-best time of 4:49.74, giving him a slight edge over Frank Runs Above of Hays-Lodge Pole, who comes in with a time of 4:50.69. In the 3,200 however, Johnson is an overwhelming favorite as he enters the race with a time (10:55) 14 seconds faster than his nearest competitor.

Beyond that, Johnson said a big focus will be the improvement of the long relay team, which comes into the meet seeded fourth. In the triple jump, Johnson, who has a jump of 35-6.25 so far this season, comes in seeded sixth.

“We are just trying to score as many points as we can,” Johnson said. “We really want to try and push North Star. It’s going to be tough, because we are a younger team and don’t quite have the numbers, but we are going to give it our best shot.”

Once track season is over, Johnson’s days as a Sugarbeeter will come to a close. Yet, the Academic All-State athlete, who also won the hustle award on the boys basketball team this past season, will take his 4.0 GPA and head to Brigham Young University.

Before that happens, Johnson has some unfinished business he wants to take care of on the track, such as winning a divisional title or placing at the Class C state meet. With those goals in mind, Johnson will take to the track today in Havre, yet prior to that, the Havre Daily News caught up with him for five questions.

HDN: What is your mindset going into districts?

Johnson: “Well I am not really worried about PRs (personal records). The day is going to be long and I am going to be in five events, so my focus is just going to be on scoring points and trying to help my team win the district championship. We have a certain rivalry with North Star every year and that’s the goal is to beat North Star and hopefully this year we can do that.”

HDN: How did you get into running?

Johnson: “When I was a seventh-grader, my brother was a senior and he ran long distance and he pushed me hard enough that I started liking to run and it’s been like that ever since.”

HDN: Do you just run in track season or to stay in shape or do you run beyond that?

Johnson: “It’s a definite hobby. I wish there were more opportunities to do it around here. There are some events called mud runs around the state, that I would like to start doing more of, but there also seems to be always be a time management issue.”

HDN: What is your best time in the mile and what did it feel like when you got under five minutes?

Johnson: “My best time is a 4:42. It was awesome. I want to say that was at districts my freshman year. It was a pivotal moment because I realized if I could get under five (minutes), I could make it to state.”

HDN: What are you hoping to achieve in these next few weeks (districts, divisionals, state) and what would it mean if you are able to reach those goals?

Johnson: “I have always dreamed of being a state champion. So if I could somehow do that or even just place at state, that would mean a lot to me. That would be a great way to end my career.”