Throwback: Cha'iel Johnson Officially Arrives At AAU


WATCH THE AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES LIVE ON FLOTRACK

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In 2017, Miami Gardens Xpress's Cha'iel Johnson officially arrived at the AAU Junior Olympics. 

But interestingly enough, the then-12-year-old -- who was the daughter of former NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson -- scored an impressive double in an area most didn't even expect. 

The distance events.

Johnson would win the 800m in 2:13.72 and the 1,500m in 4:43.83, doing so in wildly entertaining fashions (see the 1,500m win below).

Later, she would add a fourth-place in the 400m in 59.06 seconds.

But more than the wins, Johnson's performances signaled the beginning of a career that would ascend in youth track and field.

In two straight years following that big performance in 2017, she would continue earning more accolades, authoring two more victories in the 800m in the 2018 and 2019 -- the latter season, in fact, she scored a triple, also taking victories in the 400m and 1,500m. 

This past year, as a high school freshman, she moved to St. Thomas Aquinas -- though that first year was mostly erased due to COVID-19. 

Looking back on where that big climb upward came, it's hard to look away from the 2017 AAU Junior Olympic Games. 


2017 Girls 12yo 800m Results

Event 63  Girls 800 Meter Run 12 years old
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    National: N 2:13.30  8/3/2011    Daesha Rogers, Miami, FL                
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals  H# Alternate
=============================================================================
Finals                                                                       
  1 Cha'Iel Johnson           05 Miami Gardens, FL      2:13.72   7          
  2 Serenity Brazell          05 Tampa, FL              2:15.34   7          
  3 Krianne McBride           05 Elgin, TX              2:20.63   7          
  4 Tai Sheppard              05 Brooklyn, NA           2:21.85   6          
  5 Jenai Berry               05 Fanwood, NJ            2:23.22   7          
  6 Emoni Saxton              05 Westerville, OH        2:24.38   6          
  7 Jaellene Burgess          05 Homestead, FL          2:26.08   3          
  8 Emma Hoang                05 Flower Mound, TX       2:27.29   7



Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

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2017 Girls 12yo 1500m Results

Event 81  Girls 1500 Meter Run 12 years old
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    National: N 4:41.14  8/3/2010    Danae Rivers, Derby, CT                 
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals  H# Alternate
=============================================================================
Finals                                                                       
  1 Cha'Iel Johnson           05 Miami Gardens, FL      4:43.83   3          
  2 Krianne McBride           05 Elgin, TX              4:44.32   3          
  3 Isabel Conde Frankenberg  05 Cedar Park, TX         4:54.86   3          
  4 Rainn Sheppard            05 Brooklyn, NA           4:55.23   3          
  5 Juliette Salazar          05 Cornwall, NY           4:59.74   3          
  6 Brienne Trumpower         05 Mansfield, OH          5:00.26   3          
  7 Leah Jordan               05 Houston, TX            5:03.89   3          
  8 Chesney Wilke             05 Tecumseh, MI           5:04.02   3    




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