Johnson Opts Out of 100 Hurdles

Chelsea Johnson of Atascadero, the top-ranked girls’ pole vaulter in the nation, will not compete in the 100-meter high hurdles tonight in the Southern Section Masters Meet at Cerritos College.

The UCLA-bound Johnson advanced to the Masters Meet in the hurdles and pole vault, but dropped the highs so she could focus on the pole vault.

Johnson had two close attempts at a national high school record of 13 feet 9 inches in the Southern Section divisional championships at Cerritos last Saturday, but admitted her legs were tired after competing in the hurdles.

Angel Perkins of Cerritos Gahr will not run in the 400 in the Masters Meet, choosing to focus on the 100 and 200. Perkins, the defending state champion in the 200, is not in peak form after sustaining a hamstring injury earlier this season.

The Masters Meet is the Southern Section qualifying meet for the state championships. Field events start at 4:30 p.m. Track events begin at 6.