COLUMBUS — State Rep. Wes Goodman (R-Cardington) this week presented a resolution in the Ohio Legislature honoring Chad Johnson as the 2016 Division III State Boys Cross Country champion.
The Colonel Crawford junior beat out more than 180 runners to win the individual state title at National Trails Raceway. Johnson finished with an impressive time of 15 minutes and 18 seconds, and an average mile time of 4 minutes and 55 seconds.
“I am delighted to honor Chad for his tremendous achievement,” Goodman said. “He is an exceptional young man who is a source of pride for his family and his entire community.”
Johnson is a junior this year for the Eagles and is getting ready for the spring track season.
But he did not take the winter off.
As of Feb. 4, 2017, Chad had the fastest 3,200 time in the nation, following his 3,200 win at the Spire Scholastic Meet at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
According to the website oh.milesplit.com, “Johnson of Colonel Crawford High School had the race of his life as he clocked a 9:15.33, 3200m finish. His time is a (personal record), a 2017 Ohio #1 and a U.S. #1 as well. Johnson led the race from start to finish and, despite the trail pack being far behind, he did not let up in the final stages, as he put even 4:37 splits together for his emphatic win. Johnson’s fantastic time overtakes previous U.S. #1 Ryan Gallagher of New York.”
