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At 9, Johnson aims for Jr. Olympic gold
Montre Johnson
Frank Long Elementary student Montre Johnson, 9, will compete in the AAU Junior Olympics in New Orleans later this month. - photo by Photo provided.

Frank Long Elementary student Montre Johnson has been running track since he was 6.
You might want to remember his name.
Now 9, Johnson hopes to rake in the gold later this month when he competes  in the AAU Junior Olympics in New Orleans.
Johnson qualified for the national event, which is the last week in July, with two top-four finishes at the District 6 finals. He finished first in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 13.88 seconds, and second in the 200 with a time of 27.91.
Two weeks later at the region tournament, Johnson’s 4x100-meter relay team placed first. Johnson then took the top spot in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.57. He finished third in the 200-meter dash with a 28.12 to qualify for the Junior Olympics.
His father, Matthew Johnson, said Montre used to run track with the Southeast Elite Rockets but recently joined a team in Atlanta known as Mark Trail’s Flying Eagles.
Dad said his son is allowed to compete in only three events due to his age and is looking to earn his first Junior Olympic medal.
But it’s not Johnson’s first time at the Junior Olympics.
“He actually qualified last year too,” Dad said. “He represented our region last year…it was in Virginia and he came in 11th in the nation in the 100, seventh in the nation in the running long jump and 21st in the 200.”
Johnson said his son’s favorite races are the 100 and 200 and he is eager to earn a spot at the podium wearing gold, silver or bronze. He said his son has gotten stronger over the years and that has helped him develop endurance for the longer runs while also making him more explosive in his strides.
“It’s humbling and I’m just honored to call him my son,” the elder Johnson said. “He is a student of the game and it’s pretty humbling just to watch him. He inspires me and his mother (Melody) through his work ethics. He doesn’t complain too much, he trains hard and now he is starting to see the fruit from his hard training.”

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