June 19, 2007

BERKELEY - California junior Alysia Johnson, coming off a record-setting NCAA championship in the 800-meter run, was named the Pac-10 Women's Track Athlete of the Year, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today. Johnson is only the second Golden Bear, man or woman, to earn Pac-10 Athlete of the Year honors. Former Bears star Sheila Hudson claimed the honor in 1990.

Johnson and several teammates are preparing to compete at the USA Outdoor Championships starting tomorrow and running through Sunday, June 20-24, in Indianapolis.

From Canyon Country, Calif., Johnson won her latest NCAA crown in a school-record 1:59.29 earlier this month in Sacramento. That time was also the second fastest in NCAA meet history, second fastest in Pac-10 history and third fastest overall in collegiate history. The 800 title was her second national championship of the year, as she won the NCAA indoor 800 in an indoor school-record 2:03.47 in March.

Her points at the NCAA Outdoor Championships were instrumental in guiding Cal to its best finish ever in the NCAA Championships, as the Bears finished in eighth place. She also took top honors in the 800 at the Pac-10 Championships with a Pac-10 meet-record time of 2:01.74 and won the 800 in a meet-record 2:02.12 at the NCAA West Regional.