Who is Jack Johnson? Let us start by introducing him as this week's Wildcat of the Week. But more importantly, Johnson is the holder of an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the 5,000 meters after his breakout performance at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival Friday night.
Johnson did not make Distance Coach Gary Towne's team as a freshman, and did not make the Wildcats' CCAA Championship cross country squad, reserved for the team's top 10 runners, in the fall.
So when Johnson stopped the clock in 14:23.31 Friday, many of the closest followers of the Chico State distance program reacted with the same question: Who is this Jack Johnson?
Google does not help. First the musician pops up. Add track and field and a meet by that name at the University of Minnesota dominates the content. But that might be changing.
Johnson's time is the fourth fastest on the team this season, but it ranks 13th in the nation and fifth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. He shaved 20 seconds off his PR from last season, and if he can shave 10 more, that would be fast enough to get him on the program's all-time top 10 PR list.
Johnson is signed up to run the 1,500 meters when the Wildcats host the Chico Distance Carnival and Twilight Invitational Friday and Saturday at University Stadium. There may never be a better opportunity to come find out who this Jack Johnson is.
