Uniontown’s Johnson fights through injury, swims to silver
PITTSBURGH – The thought that Uniontown sophomore Kaitlyn Johnson couldn’t cut it mentally never crossed coach Rian Davis’ mind. But Davis may have had his doubts about Johnson’s gimpy shoulder, which forced her to miss a few meets during the regular season and required time off and a stint in therapy.
Consider those doubts erased.
Johnson showed little signs of rust, and because of that, ended up with silver in the 50-yard freestyle Thursday at the Class AA WPIAL Swimming Championships at Trees Pool on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
Johnson finished with a mark of 24.81, lower than her No. 4 seed time (25.33) and just two tenths of a second behind Indiana’s gold medal winner, Abbey Doran.
“I really wanted to come in first, but considering what I’ve been through this season, I’m happy I could manage second place,” Johnson said.
The race was a battle between Doran, Johnson and Freeport’s Lauren Balko throughout the fifth and final heat. Doran took the lead early and never relinquished it, but Johnson nearly caught her at the end.
Johnson hurt her shoulder near the conclusion of her freshman season, and doctors told her she was having trouble because her shoulder was too loose, too flexible. She then took the summer off, hoping rest would cure her ails.
“When I came back, I tried to go too hard too quick and my shoulder hurt even worse,” Johnson said. “My doctor told me to rest it more and to go to therapy. When I came back the next time, I did so slowly and eased back into it.
“I missed a couple meets, but with the WPIALs coming up, I tried to get back in the pool about a week, week and a half ago.”
As a freshman, Johnson ironically finished third in the Class AAA finals with the same mark she hit in winning the silver medal, 24.81. The second-place finish Thursday also guarantees Johnson a return trip to the PIAA finals, held later this month at Bucknell University.
“She did an excellent job,” Davis said. “She looked real strong from start to finish. She held her stroke together well. She’s been working on technique trying to get stronger.
“Kaitlyn’s a real tough competitor. When she makes her mind up she’s going to accomplish something, she accomplishes it.”
Which is exactly what happened Thursday.
Now, Johnson shifts her attention to the 100-yard freestyle, where she is seeded No. 9 with a qualifying mark of 56.01. A year ago, she finished sixth with a mark of 54.17.
“My times in the 100 have been a couple seconds off where I want them,” Johnson said, “but I’ll see what I can do.”