Rather than dreaming of becoming a star athlete, Johnson wanted to be an architect.
Johnson did not start running track until he was a teenager. "I first competed in track at Atwell Junior High in Dallas, and then just because it was something fun to do," Johnson remembered in Boys' Life. "I ran the 200 and the sprint relay, but I wasn't outstanding and had no big plans for high school track."
Runs for fun
Johnson did not run track his first two years at Skyline High School so that he could concentrate on his studies. He tried out for the track team as a junior and received some good advice from his coach, Joel Ezar--relax and enjoy running. "Track is a big sport in Texas, but he [Ezar] didn't put pressure on me," Johnson explained in Boys' Life. "I ran the 200 and both relays [400 and 1,600]. I never went to a meet intent [determined] on running some great times and trying to impress college coaches and get a scholarship. As a result, I never felt burned out."
Johnson won the district title in the 200 meters as a senior but lost at the state meet.
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