(By MATT PIKE)
A multi time state medalist, East Buchanan track star Brooklynn Johnson has signed to continue her career at Missouri Southern
Johnson says from the moment she stepped on campus she felt a connection with the track and field team in Joplin
“The team was so welcoming, and I just felt like a part of the team and Coach (Brian) Allen told me, he’s like everyone already feels like you’re part of the team so why don’t you just come down,” Johnson tells reporters. “So, I really felt connected with Coach Allen, the coaching staff, they were all super nice, and I just loved the team and it’s obviously a bonus that I’m going to be with Trey.”
Reuniting with Trey Johnson, Brooklyn’s brother, turned out to play a factor in joining the Lions, even though at first Johnson says she hesitated.
“At first I was like would you want me to come to college with you, and he was like absolutely,” Johnson says. “I was kind of expecting a no maybe, but he was super up for it, and he was super encouraging and I love that.”
Trey committed to the Lions last year and is currently in his freshman year. Both of the siblings have won state medals at East Buchanan.
Johnson calls herself and Trey a dynamic duo, and says she knows being together nothing will be able to stop the two of them
“I’m super excited to just have him there and just have comfort but also have pushing, because he knows how to push me, so I think it will be good to just step outside of my comfort zone up there,” Johnson explains.
East Buchanan head track coach Jeff Harlin says both Trey and Brooklyn defined the team’s slogan of ‘No Limits’ and says the two have always been close
“They’ve always been there for one another to congratulate each other, but there’s also a little friendly rivalry between the two, so they’ll hold each other in check, and they’ll push each other to have no limits,” Harlin says.
Johnson won back-to-back runner ups in the shot put her freshman and sophomore year, before becoming a state champion last season as a junior.
Harlin says the Lions are getting an athlete in Johnson who’s raw, with a lot of potential, but is excited she will get to learn from coach Brian Allen
“Who coached the bronze medalist in the Paris Summer Olympics, and that thrower sometimes when he’s working out helps the throwers down at Missouri Southern, so there’s a chance that Brooklynn could be working with an Olympic bronze medalist when she’s down at Joplin competing for Missouri Southern,” Harlin says. “So, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
Johnson comes into this track season as the best returning shot put athlete in Class 2, and the sixth best in the state.
(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.)
