Cajon’s Seth Johnson has no time for days off as a four-event track star

Seth Johnson wasn’t imagined to do something particular.

Two days earlier, the San Bernardino Cajon Excessive observe and area sensation had gained the highschool boys’ pentathlon on the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York. So for this March 15 twin meet towards Beaumont, head coach Tracy Jackson satisfied Johnson to relaxation. Simply compete in a single occasion, the excessive bounce, as an alternative of his normal 4. Simply notch an honest rating and chill out.

Positive, Johnson was listening. However he simply felt good.

Taking pictures on the facet, his mom, Mia, informed Jackson that her son was gearing as much as hit a private document. Earlier than the coach knew it, his protege was bending his backbone like a slinky over a bar six-feet, nine-inches excessive. With the smack of his again towards the pad, Johnson was all of the sudden the state chief within the excessive bounce.

“I actually needed to stroll over there simply to see the bar,” Jackson stated. “That was wonderful; seeing even on an off day, this child went out and PR’d.”

Actually, there are not any off days for Johnson, a senior now dedicated to the College of California for observe and area. He competes in 4 occasions — a mixture and match of hurdles, excessive bounce, lengthy bounce and relays. Johnson’s mom and coach attempt to gradual him down typically.

However he won’t cease working, leaping and leaping.

“I battle with desirous to do the whole lot,” Johnson stated. “Being one of the best at the whole lot.”

Her son, Mia stated, had that mentality since delivery.

It wasn’t at all times observe and area. At 5, it was Spider-Man. Then animals at 8. Dinosaurs at 10. Mia would purchase him encyclopedia after encyclopedia, a younger Johnson poring by way of details on paleontology till he was an skilled.

“I simply have that persona,” Johnson stated. “I prefer to get obsessed.”

The subsequent obsession was observe, the place Johnson’s grown from a freshman who flew below the radar right into a multi-event powerhouse. He’s tied for twelfth within the nation within the excessive bounce, fourth in California within the 110-meter hurdles and he completed second within the lengthy bounce ultimately yr’s Southern Part Division I championships.

He had expertise his freshman yr, Jackson stated, who’s additionally Johnson’s power and conditioning coach. However he was simply hitting his stride.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Johnson became a gymnasium rat. If Jackson informed him to do 12 reps, he’d do 13.

When Cajon reconvened for 2 meets that 2020 season, Johnson was simply “completely different,” his coach stated.

“He was simply head and shoulders over everyone,” Jackson stated.

Seth Johnson warms up earlier than competing within the excessive bounce on the Trabuco Hills Invitational on Saturday.

(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Instances)

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On Saturday, Johnson bounded throughout the all-weather observe at Trabuco Excessive, his forest inexperienced sweats clinging to his legs as he ready for the excessive bounce on the Trabuco Hills Invitational. Breezing over a bar set for warmups, he bounded again up off the pad with out breaking a sweat.

Johnson strolled previous an incredulous Burrell Adams of San Pedro, flashes of exasperation and admiration forming a smile on his competitor’s face.

“That’s everyone’s PR proper there,” Adams informed Johnson.

At Trabuco Hills his freshman yr, Johnson “no-heighted” within the excessive bounce — not even clearing the bar as soon as. He was in awe that yr as his competitors cleared 6-6.

Now in his senior yr, the sphere was taking a look at him with those self same large eyes.

“A bit bit [weird],” Johnson stated, smiling softly as he stood on the sphere contained in the observe.

Typically, he desires of stepping again. Focusing all his consideration on that prime bounce, or the hurdles.

Johnson’s obsessive nature is a blessing and a curse. He’s been tempted at completely different factors all through highschool to affix the volleyball workforce and the swim workforce, solely to be talked down by his mother and father. It’s why he does 4 occasions at each meet: He’ll sort out as a lot as he can, as arduous as he can.

But he’s had moments the place his tempo will gradual ever-so-slightly on his final occasion of the day, his hamstrings tightening.

“That’s the one factor that form of sucks,” Johnson stated. “I simply typically want I might concentrate on one factor and be an occasion specialist, however that’s simply not likely within the playing cards for me.”

Jackson feels his star runner typically spreads himself too skinny.

“We’re speaking a few child that might even skip faculty to go skilled in a yr,” Jackson stated. “That’s how good [he’d be] if he would concentrate on one occasion.”

Seth Johnson receives the baton from Cajon teammate Brent Austin throughout the boys’ 100-meter relay on the Trabuco Hills Invitational.

(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Instances)

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Seth Johnson, second from proper, talks together with his 100-meter relay teammates (from left) Brent Austin, Ethan Powell and Jeyquan Smith after ending second on the Trabuco Hills Invitational.

(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Instances)

Why doesn’t Johnson lower down the workload?

“My workforce wants me,” he stated.

By the tip of the week, after hours of particular occasion coaching every day, Johnson’s gassed. However he enjoys the grind. It feeds his urge for food.

“It kinda looks like I do one inconceivable factor a day,” Johnson stated.

On Saturday, he was again to attempting the inconceivable. At Trabuco Hills, he cleared 6-foot and 6-2 with ease within the excessive bounce, exhibiting no indicators of fatigue after ending second within the 110-meter hurdles earlier that morning.

Johnson stated he and his Cajon teammates have been utilizing the Trabuco Hills Invitational to gear up for the Arcadia Invitational on April 8. However as he stored leaping, his competitors returned to earth. After only a few makes an attempt, Johnson discovered himself alone within the area.

The occasion administrator walked as much as Johnson, asking if he needed to maintain going up two inches at a time. He’d already gained. However the Berkeley commit nodded.

Cajon’s Seth Johnson smiles as he prepares to compete on the Trabuco Hills Invitational on Saturday.

(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Instances)

The bar stored rising, 6-4, then 6-6, and Johnson stored torqueing himself greater. A small crowd, slowly gathering on the sting of the observe, set free hollers. Lastly, Johnson ran again over.

“Are you able to guys simply put it at 6-10?” he requested.

Johnson didn’t clear it. That may have been inconceivable within the second. However he simply needed to strive, as a result of that’s what he loves about excessive bounce: it’s Seth Johnson vs. Seth Johnson.