Some areas in need of walleye help Page 2-C

Section C

SPORTS
Wednesday, August 1, 2012

www.TheNewsHerald.com

Southgate Heritage Days Half Eight

Runners hit the streets in Southgate Friday evening for the third running of the Heritage Days Half-Eight that was run through the streets of the city. Find complete race results on Page 4-C. Next up on the local calendar for area runners is Saturdays 36th annual Allen Park Street Fair 10K and 5K races. Allen Park will be followed by the Wood Duck Dash in Brownstown on Aug. 11 and the Grosse Ile Simsonian on Aug. 18.

The next step

By Sara Perez
The News-Herald

Huron track, CC star ready to take on the challenge of college athletics

With the help of her Johnson middle school coach, Jean Ciolino, Huron High Schools Brooke Johnson took her talents and ran with them literally. After getting hooked on running as an eighth-grader, Johnson breezed through high school breaking school records in both track and cross country. Johnsons talents as a runner have her University of St. Francis-bound in the fall where she will run on a track and crosscountry scholarship. In track, Johnsons main event is the 1600 meters, where her personal best is 5 minutes, 17.2 seconds, a school record. Johnson also ran the 800 meters and 3200 meters, with personal records of 2:25 and 11:53, respectively. Johnson was a state-meet qualifier in the 1600 meters in both her junior and senior seasons. My favorite event is the 1600 because its not a short race, yet its not a long race, said Johnson. Between track and cross country Johnson ran many, many races, but some stand out. She said her favorite senior-season races were the 800 and the 1600 at The NewsHerald Track & Field Championships and the 1600 at regionals, all races she won. As good a track runner as she is, Johnson had an even better career as a cross country runner. She qualified for the state meet in cross country every year from her freshman season to her senior season. Her personal 5K (3.1 miles) record in cross country is 19:50. Johnson has natural talent in running, but she also credits many people in helping her succeed. God has blessed me with so many talents, running being one of them. Without God, I wouldnt be anything. He is my strength and my shield. He brings me through the good times and the bad times. Without his love and grace I wouldnt be anything today, said Johnson. The University of St. Francis, in Jolliet, IL., is a faith-based university and a NAIA affiliated athletic school.

Recent Huron grad Brooke Johnson (488) was a four-time cross country state-meet qualier and a two-time track qualier. She will run next year at the University of St. PLEASE SEE BROOKE/3-C Francis in Illinois.