Jan Johnson

While attending Kansas, Jan Johnson won the 1970 NCAA outdoor pole vault although the competition was concluded indoors in a nearby fieldhouse because of a cloudburst. Johnson actually set a World Indoor Record of 17-7 (5.36) in winning that “outdoor” title. Johnson later enrolled at Alabama and claimed three major victories. In 1971 he won the AAU outdoor and the Pan American Games, and in 1972 he won the NCAA Indoor. His career best of 18-0½ (5.50) came at the 1972 Final Trials when he placed third. Johnson earned a Ph.D. in physical education at Southern Illinois and continued to compete sporadically for a number of seasons after the Olympics. He was the father of Chelsea Johnson, World silver medalist in pole vault in 2009.

Personal Bests: LJ – 24-9 (7.54) (1972); PV – 18-0½ (5.50) (1972).