BYU-bound Johnston wraps up high school career with state titles, national record
By Craig Howard, News EditorShare:  
June 28, 2010 — No one was quite sure who had won the 3,200-meter race at last month's Washington State 3A Track and Field Championships in Tacoma after Ben Johnston and Drew O'Donoghue-McDonald crossed the finish line stride for stride.
A few weeks before graduating from North Central High School in Spokane, Ben Johnston glided to a pair of first-place finishes at the Washington 3A Track Championship Meet in Tacoma. Johnston earned titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs while helping North Central to its third straight team championship. Contributed Photo.
As the runners filtered onto the infield, Johnston's coach, Jon Knight, joined thousands in the stands at Mt. Tahoma High School in contemplating the question of the moment.
"I asked Ben if he'd won," Knight said. "He said, 'I think so, coach.' It was classic Ben - not real vocal, just a humble response."
Johnston, a senior at Spokane's North Central High School had, in fact, churned to victory in the 2-mile by the slimmest of margins. His time of 8:58.68 edged out Seattle Prep's O'Donoghue-McDonald's 8:58.80 for the 3A state title. Two days later, the NC senior nipped O'Donoghue-McDonald by just over a second for the championship in the 1,600, posting a time of 4:12.96 and earning critical points for NC as they soared their way to a third straight team crown.
While the results at state left an impact, some in Tacoma were still talking about Johnston's effort at the Shoreline Invitational in Seattle back in May. It was in that race that Johnston set a 2010 national record for high school runners with a mile time of 4:06.54.
When he was asked by a reporter from the Seattle Times about the national mark, Johnston was, again, in no hurry to monopolize the attention.
"I couldn't have done that without the great competition that was here today," he said.
While self-promotion doesn't exactly top Johnston's list of priorities, those who follow the sport will tell you that his senior year ranks among the best in Washington high school sports history. In addition to the national record, state track individual and team titles, he ran to an individual state title in cross-country, boosting North Central to its fourth consecutive team championship.
"Ben's definitely the best we've had at North Central," Knight said. "His progression was real steady this year. He became stronger."
The extra gear came in handy at state as Johnston found himself trailing O'Donoghue-McDonald down the final stretch in the 2-mile.
"I knew I had to step it up to compete," Johnston said. "Drew ran a very smart race. As I was running, I was thinking about all the training I'd done in the winter. I knew if I did my best, that's all I could do."
At the Shoreline Invitational in Seattle this May, Johnston raced to a time of 4:06.54 in the mile, setting a national record for the fastest time of any high school runner in 2010. A member of the River Ridge Ward in the Spokane North Stake, Johnston will continue his running career at BYU this fall. Johnston is shown here leading the pack at the 2-mile state race in Tacoma.
As has been the case throughout his running career, Johnston held fast to a policy of not training on the Sabbath during his senior year - regardless of the circumstance. The commitment carried through after the high school cross country season last November as he earned a ticket to the Nike Border Clash - a race in Portland featuring the top prep runners from Washington and Oregon. Johnston, who was also invited last year, declined because the event is held on a Sunday.
As one of the elite high school runners in the nation, Johnston also earned a bid to the Jim Ryun Dream Mile in New York earlier this month. Instead, he followed through on a previous obligation, competing with his North Central teammates at the Portland Track Festival. Running in a prestigious field, Johnston wound up third in the mile and contributed to a second-place team finish.
"It was kind of a tough decision, but team success is a lot more rewarding than individual success," he said.
Johnston earned his state titles by edging out Drew O'Donoghue-McDonald of Seattle Prep by less than a half-second in the state two-mile and just over a second in the mile.
Early morning seminary was also part of Johnston's routine throughout the school year. After class from 6 to 6:45 a.m., Johnston found time for a 30-minute run before the first school bell rang.
"It was always nice to start your day with a discussion about the Book of Mormon," he said.
Among Johnston's favorite scriptures is one found in Second Nephi 25:26 - a passage that begins, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ…" Johnston says the verse reminds him of the church's foundation and mission.
"I was reading my scriptures one day and it struck me that this is what we're all about," he said.
Knight, who has his team contribute to community service projects throughout the year, said Johnston is one of a number of LDS student-athletes who have benefited from the standards set by the church.
"We've had a lot of good Mormon runners," he said. "I think the structure helps them succeed."
A member of the River Ridge Ward in the Spokane North Stake, Johnston will take his running shoes and work ethic to Provo, Utah this fall as he joins the cross country and track programs at BYU. He plans to attend school and compete for a year before departing on an LDS mission.
"My brother's on a mission right now," Johnston said. "I've seen his example of what teaching the gospel can do for people. When you think about it, two years is really nothing considering what the Lord has given us. I think it will be a milestone in my life."
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