Grizzlies back in action Friday in Moscow; Q&A with Paul Johnstone

Friday, February 7

Moscow, Idaho

Montana

Idaho Team Challenge

Photo by: Derek Johnson

Grizzlies back in action Friday in Moscow; Q&A with Paul Johnstone

2/6/2020 3:15:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Heat Sheet

By: Montana Sports Information

After a much-needed break in action, the Montana track & field program returns on Friday for the Idaho Team Challenge. The meet, taking place in Moscow, Idaho, will begin at 11 a.m. (MT). The field includes athletes from Montana, Eastern Washington, Gonzaga, host Idaho, Seattle and Washington State.

While the Grizzlies have been hampered to some degree by injuries through the month of January, they have seen many elite performances, as well. Several of those performances have come from sophomore Paul Johnstone, a sprinter and jumper from Forsyth, Montana. In a meet in Pocatello, Idaho, on Jan. 17, Johnstone earned three event victories, winning the 200 meters (21.96), 400 meters (48.60) and being the second leg of the winning 4x400-relay team (3:23.44).

Below is a Q&A with Johnstone:

Being from nearby Forsyth, you didn't have to travel far to get to Montana. Did you always know you wanted to compete for Montana? I was born in Missoula and have family around Missoula. We moved to Forsyth for middle and high school. Both of my parents graduated from UM, and my mom did track here. It was kind of always in the back of my mind. Even if I got an offer from the Cats, I was always going to be a Griz.

You made an immediate impact as a Griz, competing at the Big Sky indoor and outdoor championships in a variety of events last year as a freshman. None was bigger than the 4x400 relay, which you won and set a school record in. Describe what that race was like: It was the Big Sky Championship, so I was really nervous. Starting the race and having the baton first, and being in charge of it, I was nervous. It was also Sterling's (Reneau) last meet, in front of the home crowd. I knew that race would be remembered. One of the guys I was running against, from Southern Utah, he won the 400 open. I had to race him first, and I stuck with him. I knew if I could stay with him we would have a shot. Our guys went in with a different mentality that race. When X (Xavier Melice) was sitting in second in the back stretch, I knew we were going to win.

You ended your first year on a high note, but now you're also doing big things as a sophomore. How do you feel you've evolved or improved since your freshman year? Confidence is a big thing. I didn't really run the 400 open in high school, so learning how to run that race helped me. Coach (Paul) Reneau really knows his stuff and Brandon (Ronan) in the weight room has helped all of us get so much stronger. Coach Reneau helps so much with technique and starts, and it's all coming together.

You've competed in a handful of events, both running and jumping. Do you have a favorite? I really like the relay. My best event is probably the 400.

You're scheduled to compete in four events on Friday. How challenging is it to prepare for multiple events in one day – both mentally and physically? I think I was trained for it, being from a Class B school in high school with like 12 guys on our track team. I always had five events and the relays, so I would be competing all day. It's a little different with indoor, because the meets are crammed into four hours instead of all day, but I've kind of always had the mentality of just going out and running or jumping and just doing my best and seeing what happens.

One of the unique things about you is that you're a twin, with your brother Cade Johnstone also competing for the Griz. Describe what it's like to remain teammates in college: It's a lot of fun, especially last year, as our first year, it helped relax us. We never pictured not running together (in college). We always trained with each other and were teammates for every sport all throughout high school, so we kind of always knew it would be this way in college too.

You're on a bus a lot traveling. What's your favorite way to pass time on a bus? Definitely music. I always have my headphones and music. From when we start the trip to when we get there, I'll be listening to music, usually hip-hop if I'm trying to get amped up. I do like to think about my events, as well. I like to see what heat I'll be in and what lane so I can picture myself running in that lane.

What are you studying? I haven't declared, but I know I'm going into business. I think I'm going to declare marketing this spring.

When you're not competing or training, what do you enjoy doing? I like to hang out with my friends a lot, and go to basketball and football games. Pretty much any athletic activity I can be at or doing, that's what I like most.

Idaho Team Challenge competitors:
Men's 60 meters – Kip Krebsbach, Angel Moreno, Jethro Thorne
Men's 200 meters – Chase Armstrong, Peterson Bohannon, Paul Johnstone, Kip Krebsbach, Callum Macnab, Xavier Melice, Angel Moreno
Men's 400 meters – Paul Johnstone, Callum Macnab, Xavier Melice, Jethro Thorne
Men's 800 meters – Noah Adams, Quincy Fast, Colton Hess, Noah Kells, Jacob Lamb
Men's 1 mile – Andrea Baratte, Quincy Fast
Men's 3,000 meters – Andrea Baratte, Will Dauenhauer, Hunter May
Men's 60-meter hurdles – Chase Armstrong, Aidan Diggs
Men's 4x400-meter relay – Callum Macnab, Jacob Lamb, Paul Johnstone, Xavier Melice; Colton Hess, Quincy Fast, Noah Adams, Jethro Thorne
Men's high jump – Aidan Diggs, Jordan Stow, Jason Upton
Men's pole vault – Aidan Diggs, Zane Johnson, Lawrence Moore
Men's long jump – Peterson Bohannon, Paul Johnstone, Jordan Stow, Jethro Thorne, Jason Upton
Men's triple jump – Zane Johnson
Men's shot put – Shawn Humphries, Noah Ramirez, Brent Yeakey
Men's weight throw – Shawn Humphries

Women's 60 meters – Olivia Ellis, Emma Normand
Women's 200 meters – Cree Bell, Abby Harmon, Emma Normand
Women's 400 meters – Olivia Ellis, Abby Harmon
Women's 800 meters – Carly Dahms, Erica Simison
Women's 1 mile – June Eastwood, Samantha Engebretsen, Beatrix Frissell, Emily Pittis, Erica Simison
Women's 3,000 meters – June Eastwood, Samantha Engebretsen, Beatrix Frissell, Sabrina Herritt, Emily Pittis
Women's 60-meter hurdles – Hannah Coburn, Olivia Ellis, Ailsa Gilbert, Jaree Mane
Women's 4x-400-meter relay – Olivia Ellis, Abby Harmon, Cree Bell, Jaree Mane
Women's high jump – Jane Booth, Jaree Mane, Morgan Radtke
Women's pole vault – Kahsiah Benson, Chloe Seferos, Grace Slevin, Aly Tekippe
Women's long jump – Hannah Coburn, Ailsa Gilbert, Jaree Mane, Aly Tekippe
Women's triple jump – Ailsa Gilbert, Rachel Lewis, Morgan Radtke
Women's shot put – Mariah Harvey, Holly Houston, Jaree Mane
Women's weight throw – Mariah Harvey