Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 24, 1990 TAG: 9004240211
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
That guy in the natty clothes was Blue Demon long-distance specialist Harley Johnson. Johnson, just back at school from a mock United Nations debate at Virginia Tech as part of his advanced-placement government class, has never been one to blend into the crowd.
His achievements in the four R's - reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic and running - set him apart.
In addition to being an athlete with rare abilities, Johnson's academic accomplishments are dazzling.
Already a senior, he doesn't turn 17 until July. By that time, a high school diploma will hang on his wall and he probably will be packing his luggage for an August trip to Atlanta. Johnson has been awarded a full academic scholarship to attend Georgia Tech.
Originally from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, Johnson completed the second and third grades in a single year, which accounts for his early graduation. His family moved to this area when he was in fifth grade, after his father got a job at Virginia Tech teaching economics.
Johnson, whose schedule this year consists of four advanced-placement courses and physics, has a grade average of 4.04 (on a 4.0 scale), and is third in his graduating class. The SAT, that monster that leaves college-bound students trembling in its wake, provided little challenge for Johnson.
In November, he scored a perfect 800 on the math section of the exam and a 1460 out of a possible 1600 overall.
Johnson chose between Georgia Tech and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was awarded the President's Scholarship at Georgia Tech.
He applied for the scholarship in December, interviewed in March, and was notified that he would receive the full ride earlier this month. He will study aerospace engineering.
He also will run.
Johnson has been a tremendous performer on the Christiansburg track and cross-country teams for the past two years. During his first two years of high school, he didn't take part in outdoor track or cross country, and running was just something to do to get in shape for soccer season.
But the summer before his junior year, he was recruited by then-new cross-country coach Jeff Custer, who was trying to build a team. Johnson began to run, and he began to enjoy it.
"It's fun, really," he said. "A lot of people don't understand the mentality of running, but it's addictive. It's rewarding to set goals and accomplish them. It takes a lot self-discipline, and I think it builds a lot of self-discipline."
Johnson certainly isn't short in that regard. Through hard work, he helped lead the Demons to a fourth-place finish in the Group AA state meet and then, after a successful indoor season, decided to run outdoors instead of continuing with soccer.
The decision was difficult but rewarding. Johnson won All-State honors for last year's outdoor season.
Last fall, he finished sixth in the state Group AA cross-country meet, helping Christiansburg win its first-ever state championship in any sport. After another solid indoor season, he is already off to a fine spring outdoor season.
Last weekend, while most of his team was competing in the George Wythe Relays, Johnson and teammate Brian Eigle went to Charlottesville to participate in the Dogwood Festival, a very competitive meet comprised of mostly AAA schools.
He ran the 3,200 meters in a personal-best, state-qualifying time of 9:38 and finished sixth, two seconds behind Eigle, a sophomore standout.
Now Johnson, whose strengths are the 1,600 and 3,200, feels confident about the Demons' chances at winning an outdoor state championship.
"I think we have as good a shot as anybody at the team title, but there are a lot of variables," he said. "Hopefully, the distance team can help carry the team to a strong finish."
For Christiansburg track coach Randy Bailey, who has guided his teams to three New River District and two Region IV championships in the past four years, Johnson is an ideal performer.
"Guys like Harley don't come around every day," Bailey said. "A person with that kind of leadership, grades and athletic ability is pretty special.
"I know being intelligent helps him as a runner. He's a self-motivator, a self-starter. His attitude is: `Coach, what else can I do?' If anything, we have to keep an eye on Harley so he doesn't work too hard, but it's not hard reasoning with him."
by CNB