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Ram ends career in style

Tampa Baptist senior Garrett Johnson wins the discus and shot put titles.

By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 4, 2002

CORAL SPRINGS -- Ranked in the top 10 in the nation in the shot put and discus, Tampa Baptist's Garrett Johnson had already put a lot of ground between himself and what passes for his competition.

So it was expected Johnson, a senior, would have no problem winning both events Friday at James Caldwell Field in Coral Springs. And in two of the most anti-climatic events, Johnson did just that, finishing his career by winning his second shot put title with a throw of 62 feet, 31/2 inches and his first discus title (164-11).

Berkeley Prep's Rolf Steier joined Johnson as Hillsborough County's other state champion. Steier won the 3,200 meters in 9 minutes, 44.22 seconds. Tampa Prep's 4x400 team took fourth.

Tallahassee Maclay won both the boys and girls titles. The Maclay boys scored 110 points to Upperroom Christian's 71.5. The girls beat Lakeland Christian 72-62.

The Buccaneers also had a champion in the girls field. The 4x800 relay team of Amanda Pittorelli, Farrah Elchahal, Suzanna Geer and Jackie Kaufman won in a school-record 9:59.93. Tampa Baptist's Marissa Davenport was third in the shot put.

But the day belonged to Johnson, who was in a class by himself in his two events. He won the shot put with a throw over 141/2 feet farther than his closest competitor, Berkeley Prep's Mark Hawkins. His discus-winning toss was 9 feet past the runner-up in that event.

Both of Johnson's top throws came on his first attempt in the finals. After that, Johnson spent the rest of the day trying to accomplish what he really set out to do: Break the state record in both events.

The records for the shot put (65-4) and discus (200-5) were both set in 1977 by Fort Pierce Central's Dock Luckie, currently a campus policeman at the University of Florida who served as Steve Spurrier's bodyguard when he was coach of the Gators.

Johnson, though, struggled in his quest, fouling on four of six attempts in the shot put and discus. Afterward, he sat on the infield by himself and shook his head in disbelief while he waited for the awards ceremony.

"I'm disappointed I didn't break either record," Johnson said, "but that's the whole purpose of setting goals, to see if you can achieve them. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. Today, I think my footwork was off and I picked a wrong time for that to happen."

Johnson's two victories helped Tampa Baptist finish 10th in the boys field, the highest among county schools.

Up next for Johnson is the Golden West Invitational and National Scholastic meet, both in June.

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