University of Massachusets Athletics
Kevin Johnson Featured In Sprinfield Republican
July 06, 2010 | Men's Cross Country
July 6, 2010
By Bill Wells - Springfield Republican
Athletic and academic awards are nothing new to Kevin Johnson.
Still, the 21-year-old from Ludlow was a little caught off guard when he was named to the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men's Track and Field and Cross Country third team.
"I was pretty ecstatic when I found out. It's nice to get recognized, and it's nice to get recognized at a national scale," said Johnson, who's entering his senior year at the University of Massachusetts.
"I think it's a great honor. It reflects nicely on the program and the coaches and the type of athletes we have for both cross country and track. The sport doesn't get too much recognition, so it's good to get good press."
The 2007 Ludlow High School valedictorian carries a 4.0 grade point average at UMass. He's majoring in Food Science and Technology, and also has a minor in biology. Athletically, he finished the cross country season as the team's No. 1 runner, leading the Minutemen to a second-place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championships. He later placed 42nd at the NCAA Division I Northeast Regional Championships at Franklin Park in Boston.
Johnson is usually able to easily juggle the strenuous class load along with the athletics, saying, "I really enjoy running. I get to hang out with my 15 closest friends each day at practice. Most of the time I don't find it to be a burden at all: I find it to be a relief from the stresses of school.
"But sometimes it's difficult. We've had meets where we had finals two days or the day before a meet, drive back six hours, and take a final. That's the only time it becomes stressful. I never regret doing track in those circumstances: it's just something you have to plan for and deal with."
Johnson won the 2009 Male Fall Student-Athlete Award at UMass, and has made the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference team three times.
This summer, Johnson is doing his college internship in Nebraska for ConAgra Foods, which makes such products as Healthy Choice, Hunt's and Slim Jim.
Johnson hurt his left hip prior to the indoor track season, forcing him to miss all of the indoor season and the majority of the outdoor schedule. He's getting better, but he's not back to 100 percent just yet.
"I've been able to train, but I can't do hard workouts," he said. "I've been about 70 miles a week the last few weeks, which is about the same as I did last year. I just have a little more soreness after my runs.
"I'm trying to build it back up slowly so I don't relapse back into injury."
Interestingly, Johnson's twin brother, David, developed the same injury right around the same time.
The Johnsons will be in attendance as spectators Sunday for the Fourth of July Road Race at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, which begins at 9 a.m.