Johnson to see familiar face at meet

 
Two years ago Brian Johnson took control over the men’s and women’s cross-country teams at Southern University. Today, he’s preparing those teams for Saturday’s competition at McNeese. Not to mention racing an old coach.
“The way the coaching situation was over there, it just took him a while to get things going,” McNeese coach Brendon Gilroy said, who coached Johnson while at Iowa (La.) High School near Lake Charles. “Brian’s’ done a fantastic job over there.”
Johnson’s coaching career started at SU after former interim coach Tinnequo Lightfoot-Ross resigned. She replaced longtime coach and SU alum Johnny Thomas, who died of prostate cancer in 2009.
Soon after, then athletic director Greg LaFleur appointed the NCAA champion and former Olympian Johnson interim coach, a position he would soon fulfill.
Gilroy gave Johnson a few words of wisdom and reminded him that there were things he can’t control.
“I’m learning that everything takes time,” Johnson said, awaiting the refurbished track and field in Mumford Stadium. “It’s a softer surface and great for training. My kids are ready.”
Johnson’s team will continue its non-conference schedule this weekend, eyeing a Gilroy squad that received a No.7 preseason ranking in the South Central region by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
“I think we’re going to be up for the challenge,” Johnson said. “We have some good key people who are running better than what they would be at this point in time.”
Johnson said his teams performed well and was satisfied with their efforts last weekend in LSU’s Invitational at Highland Road Park.
“That course was hard,” Johnson said.
On the men’s side, which finished eighth behind Jackson State, were by led Willie Williams, who finished 22^nd of 52 runners in an 8k by posting a time of 29 minutes, 22.8 seconds. Not to mention, Williams earned a top-10 finish in an 8k meet at the Ragin’ Cajuns Invite September 14.
Daniel Simon finished 47^th, clocking in at 38:41.6 while John Haynes and Ernest Sip placed 48^th and 49^th.
SU’s women finished eighth also with 213 points in the team standings 44 points behind JSU, who were sixth.
Angelica Caraballo ran a time of 25:16.4 in the 6k to finish 34^th, Amber Crews finished in 26:08.8 to come in 41^st, Shanelle Zenon finished 53rd with a time of 28:59.2, Shannon Jone-Butts finished 55^th and Jade Meyers finished 59^th.
“We’re all Division I,” Johnson said. “I really don’t see it as non conference even though we do have SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) at the end of the year. We’re all prepared the same each week, so there’s no difference between this and conference.”