Allen Johnson, 39, aiming for sub-13.20, top-3 finish at nationals

A nice profile on 39-year-old Olympic champ Allen Johnson quotes him as saying: “It’s not about how fast I can run any more; it’s about staying healthy long enough that I can get in shape to run as fast as I want to run.” Kind of long, but it serves as the masters creed. The story also says Allen is shooting for a sub-13.20 this season. And the story says: “If he were to go under 13.20, he would shatter the world record for his nearest age group (13.73), according to www.world-masters-athletics.org.” Actually, he’s already the fastest M35 on record. The M40 WR is 13.73 — and that’s over 39-inch hurdles and not 42-inchers. If Allen ran the masters hurdles after turning 40 in March 2011, David Ashford’s WR would be toast.

Allen Johnson wants to run professionally as long as he can.


Here’s the Reuters report in case the link goes down:

RALEIGH, North Carolina, June 15 (Reuters) — Allen Johnson’s life has always been about overcoming barriers and if the evergreen American has his way, this year will be no different.

“My goal is to run under 13.20 (seconds),” the 1996 Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion told Reuters in a telephone interview. “I don’t think anybody has ever run that fast at my age.”

Few hurdlers, if any, have competed as long on the professional circuit as the 39-year-old.

“My daughter was almost four years old when I won in Atlanta in 1996, now she is graduating high school,” said the four-times world outdoor champion.

“But the hunger is still there,” said Johnson, who came back from ankle surgery in 2008 to rank among the world’s top 40 hurdlers last year with a best of 13.43 seconds.

“I’ve always loved running. Besides you only live one time and when I do stop running it will be over forever. So I am going to make the most of it while I still can.”

If he were to go under 13.20 he would shatter the world record for his nearest age group (13.73), according to www.world-masters-athletics.org.

“It would show a lot of people the hurdles are something. If you can be healthy and it is something you want to do you can run at a high level for a really long time,” said Johnson who Track & Field News picked as the second-best hurdler of the last decade.

Only 2004 Olympic champion and former world record holder Liu Xiang of China ranked higher.

LEG REFLEXES

“A lot of people have the misconception that if someone can run the 100 metres fast they can be a good hurdler,” Johnson said.

“Hurdling is about leg reflexes and technique, not so much who is the fastest. It’s who can spend the least amount of time in the air over the hurdles.”

If anything is slowing him down it is fitness, not technique.

“The thing about getting older is the injuries,” said Johnson who set his personal best of 12.92 seconds in 1996.

“You just get injured more often. You take time off, you come back, you get injured again and you never get in shape.

“It’s not about how fast I can run any more, it’s about staying healthy long enough that I can get in shape to run as fast as I want to run.”

Johnson ran so poorly by his standards in Daegu, South Korea (13.81) and Shanghai (13.65) last month “it’s like ‘Should I quit or should I not’?”, he said.

“But I am going to keep trying.”

A top-three finish in this month’s national championships remains his goal and at least two more European races — in Britain — are planned for July.

“It’s never over until you decide it’s over,” said Johnson.

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June 16, 2010

15 Responses

  1. m40 WR - June 16, 2010

    Butter up the bread, because the m40 110HH is about to be broken.

    Way to go Allen! You are a true hurdler!!!!!

  2. al cestero - June 16, 2010

    keep the fire going…we’re all pulling for you. may god bless you and keep you healthy

  3. dave ashford - June 17, 2010

    Given it was hard training and the moment of breaking the world record ,against a jamacian, in the final of worlds that is butter that can never be taken away and if allen breaks the world record ,a usa hurdler will keep it in good hands,more power to allen but please dont be little my accomplishments if you have never ran in the 13 sec range because on a few of us have 13.73 13.96 , and mr m 40 hurlder what have you ran ,dont hate appricate give the respect im the best m40 hurlder ever for now,i repeat for know ,and allen and kingdom are the guys who helped me belive i could be great, three straight world titles ,2world records and i really am humble until people dont really dont give these records the respect they deserve, ps i recived an emial saying that tom g m45 us record is not the offical m45 hh record dave ashford at modesto was under 14.79 legal paperwor is in the works to make it official well see all in sacremento .please im a usa hurldler please give my performances the respect they deserve ,because i worked very hard to attain the hurldle performace times. thanks dave ashford.m40 wr

  4. dave ashford - June 17, 2010

    To all ,records are made to be broken,but please respect,im a usa hurlder world record holder and a 6 time world champion ,because i love running hurldes,i just so happen to run the fastest m40 110 hurdle time ever , im proud to say the records are mine 13,73. and 42 13.96 run the times break the records and try to butter your own bread until you run 13.over the masters hurdles please respect the are all time performances and they will never be erased, thank you dave ashford m40hh wr

  5. Gary R - June 17, 2010

    Hey Great. I work out at your Track!

  6. dave ashford - June 17, 2010

    We all know allen is the best ever hands down,but to not recognize,dave has held the wr since 2003 no other notable master hurdlers have even run 13.,so please,mr m40wr run win 7world titles break the world record against jamacia and win the world championship, you to can be a true hurdler. I guess bringing home the gold in two world finals dont count dave was the last person you would think would have the wr and and 1 of the fastest performances 39 hh 42inch 13.73. 13.96 two us gold relay medals history cannot be changed but records are made to be broken ,ps for now the greatest m40 hh ever ……..dave ashford see you in sac….

  7. saladin allah - June 18, 2010

    Go Allen ! I met this man about 10 yrs ago at Millrose Games….. and what a class act he is.

  8. Mike Godbout - June 18, 2010

    Allen is “The Man”…what more can be said. He takes 40y/o masters hurdles (which already loaded) to a “Usain Bolt-ish” level.

  9. Mark Cleary - June 18, 2010

    We all respect Allen Johnson, but in doing so let’s not disrespect David Ashford still the Best the World has known until his record is broken and after that he should be held in high esteem by all Masters athletes as one of the greatest Masters hurdlers of all time-Dave’s right you can break records–but what history he made–your an amazing athlete David.

  10. Mike Godbout - June 19, 2010

    I mean no disrespect to Dave (& I’m sure he knows that). His passion for masters track is a big reason I continued in masters competition. But I am amazed at the level AJ has maintained.

  11. Keith McQuitter - June 19, 2010

    ITS NICE TO SEE ALL THE OLD HURDLER COME BACK,HINT,R NEIMYIA,K .BETHEL,R KINGDOM,THATS,NICE TO HEAR.

  12. Keith McQuitter - June 19, 2010

    P.S TO DAVE ASHFORD,STOP PLAYING,IF YOU WORK WITH ME ,BY THE TIME I GET 53 I COULD BREAK SOME MARKS,YOUR A GOOD MAN STAY THAT WAY SEE YOU SOON.

  13. Dave Ashford - June 19, 2010

    Thanks keith ,and good luck sunday,at the usatf wisconsin championships,see you soon going to maui to train in preperation for wiusatf regionals ,and of course usatf nationals in sac. be well my freind back in two weeks.,dave run strong be strong.

  14. m40 WR - June 21, 2010

    The story was about AJ, so no disrespect intended. If Allen continues to run we all know that the record will be lowered. I am guessing it will go down to 13.4 or better if he choses to run at m40. Allen is an inspiration to all hurdlers!!!!!

  15. Noreen Thomson - June 4, 2011

    Does Allen Johnson 110 Olympic Hurdler do any mentoring? Even if it could be by e-mail. My son loves the 110 high hurdles. His idol is Allen Johnson of Great Britain. My mom was born and raised in Liverpool, England, He was in many meets and came in 4th in the state meet in Eugene,Oregon. He has been in track for 8yrs. But had to give it up due to his education. His best time was 14.4,he has kept on running distances on trails and has had himself timed for speed by a friend at Hayward Field here in Eugene Oregon where we live. Please let me know if you can be of any help.

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