University of Massachusets Athletics
FEATURE: Kevin Johnson Featured In Springfield Republican
December 25, 2009 | Men's Cross Country
Dec. 25, 2009
By Dick Baker
The Springfield Republican
Running and academics both take a lot of time and discipline, and Kevin Johnson, of Ludlow, has found hitting the books somewhat easier than pounding the pavement.
But he loves them both.
Johnson, a junior at the University of Massachusetts, was recently voted to the 2009 Atlantic 10 Cross Country Academic All-Conference cross country team. He has a 4.0 grade point average, and would someday like to become either a research scientist, or a medical doctor. He led his cross country team in three of the five events this season.
"In a race, all of your concentration is focused on the one day, while with the studies, if you slack off the one day, you can pick it up the next," Johnson said.
And he has a little sibling rivalry to keep him going. Twin brother David is no slouch either. He has about a 3.9 grade point average, and is only a few seconds behind him on the cross country course, according to Kevin. And the cross country running was all David's idea.
"In high school (Ludlow), David went out for cross country first, and I thought it was cross country skiing," Kevin said. "I was trying to figure out why he'd be cross country skiing in the fall."
But Kevin followed suit, and is now piling up all kinds of awards. In addition to the A-10 honors, he was also voted as the male UMass Fall Scholar Athlete. He also made the Outdoor Track and Field Academic All-Conference team in 2009, and the All-conference cross country squad in 2008.
With his medical interest, he's somewhat following the medical career paths of his parents. His mother (Susan) is a nurse practitioner and his father (Timothy) is a mental health counselor. But there are no other runners in the family. Mom played volleyball in college while his dad enjoys a round of golf. There is one older brother, Matthew, who attends Holyoke Community College.
"I think it's a nice variety," Kevin said in comparing cross country and outdoor track. "In the summer, I'm looking forward to cross country, and in the winter I'm looking forward to track. And I also like road racing."
And there are still running goals to pursue - such as the nationals for cross country, and the regionals for outdoor track.
His favorite course is Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
