Green Wave's Johnson wins Meet of Champions 55 meters
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
Instinct told Damier Johnson to lean. The finish line was swiftly approaching and the Long Branch sprinter was involved in what he knew would be a photo finish.

"I had a shaky start and had to play catchup," he explained. "At 45 meters, I caught them. I knew [at the finish line] I had to lean to win."

That's exactly what happened as the lean gave the Green Wave senior a narrow .01 win over Highland Park's Bryant Fitzgerald, 6.38-6.39, in the finals of the NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions boys 55-meter dash.

Johnson's 6.38 bested the meet and Shore Conference record of 6.39 held by Freehold Borough's Joe Henderson, the 1986 state champion.

"I'm the quickest runner in here [state final], not the fastest, the quickest," said Johnson.

Johnson came into theMOCwith the fastest time in the state to date and a State Group II title on his résumé.

But, despite those credentials, he was not an overwhelming favorite. He had traded wins with Shore Conference rival Michael Peavey of Neptune at the Monmouth County (Peavey) and Shore Conference (Johnson) meets.

The two rivals went their separate ways in the states with Johnson wining Group II and Peavey, Group III.

It was the loss to Peavey at the county championships that made Johnson change from flats to spikes.

"I pulled out the classics," he said of his spiked shoes.

The first time he put on the spikes in competition, he won the SC title in 6.42, which stood as the fastest time in the state until the MOC final.

Fitzgerald was the other contender. He won the Group I state title and had posted a 6.47 that tied Peavey for second-fastest time in the state.

The final lived up to expectations with first three finishers turning in the three fastest times of the winter, Johnson at 6.38, Fitzgerald at 6.39 and Peavey at 6.41.

Johnsonwas not the quickest out of the blocks as usual, but he maintained his form and composure eventually catching Fitzgerald and Peavey as he pointed out.At the line, Johnsonwasn't sure if he had one or not, it took a photo to determine that he hadwon it with his lean.

"This means everything," he said after finding out that he was indeed "the quickest runner in the state."

Monmouth Regional's Edrick Alleyene was seventh in the boys shot put with a best of 53-7. In this competition,Morristown's Nicholas Vena broke his own indoor national record with a big 66-0 ¾ throw.

Rumson-Fair Haven's Alex Smith tied for seventh in the boys high jump with his 6-foot-4 frame.

The Bulldogs' Gabriella Kelly, Christina Roque, Jaime Carroll and Melissa Bellin teamed up to finish ninth in the girls 4x400. They turned in their best undercover clocking of the season, 4:04.45.