When Latisha Johnson broke her own school record in the shot put last Saturday at the NCAA Mideast Regional, she moved her national ranking to No. 22, placing the senior from Jacksonville, Ill., on the United States Olympics B standard list.
Johnson placed fifth Saturday with a school and Missouri Valley Conference record throw of 53-1 3/4, qualifying her for the NCAA National meet June 9-12 in Austin, Texas. By making the B list, Johnson puts herself in the running for a chance to compete at the 2004 USA Olympic Team Trials July 9-18 in Sacramento, Calif.
According to the rules stated by the USATF, those athletes who attain the A standard automatically qualify for the team trials in their respective event. Athletes who obtain the B standard will be included only if additional competitors are needed to fill the field size.
Illinois State track and field assistant coach for throws Brent Chumbley feels that Johnson has the capability to perform on a national stage.
She has all the physical capabilities in the world to throw big numbers, Chumbley said. She belongs at any meet in the country.
Johnson is also the current school and MVC record holder in the indoor shot put, setting the standard at the indoor conference championships in February with a throw of 52-2 3/4. She won both the indoor and outdoor shot put titles in the Valley this season.
Now that she has confidence in herself, she knows she can compete with anybody, Chumbley said.
Johnson begins her quest for all-American status in Austin on Thursday, June 10 when she is scheduled to throw in the prelims of the shot put, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Finals of the shot put will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 12.
