Things looked so bleak a few weeks ago for UCLA’s Chelsea
Johnson, the defending NCAA pole vault champion, that she was
certain this would go down as a wasted season.
Her hamstring throbbed. Her rhythm was off. And, less than one
year after setting a new collegiate record in the pole vault, her
confidence was at an all-time low.
“I would watch tape of myself from last year, and
I’d be like, how did I do that,” Johnson said. “I
was nowhere near where I wanted to be.”
Gradually, however, that has all changed. Now that
Johnson’s injuries have healed and she is finally healthy
enough to train regularly, the junior is feeling good about herself
heading into Saturday’s Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner Kersee
Invitational at Drake Stadium.
“The past couple months weren’t fun at all,”
Johnson said. “Now that I’m healthy, I’m able to
have fun again.”
Johnson underwent off-season knee surgery that kept her
sidelined for all of fall training. Immediately after completing
her rehab, Johnson suffered a hamstring injury that kept her out of
action until March.
After a hasty attempt to qualify for the NCAA Indoor
Championships and a disastrous outdoor-season debut in which she
could not even clear 12 feet, Johnson was at a loss.
“Last year I jumped so high so early, so it was a
struggle,” she said. “I have high expectations for
myself, and it kept getting worse. I had to build up my
confidence.”
Conversations with her father, former Olympic pole vaulter Jan
Johnson, and her coach, UCLA’s Anthony Curran, helped Johnson
do just that.
So did a return to practice. Though Johnson has not competed in
a meet since early March, she has been able to vault every day in
practice, helping her build back her muscle memory and get her
rhythm back.
This weekend Johnson will go up against a loaded field that
includes former UCLA great Tracy O’Hara and legend Mary
Sauer. But with two months remaining before the championship
portion of the season begins, Johnson has plenty of time to round
into shape.
“I don’t want to say the injuries are a blessing in
disguise,” Johnson said, “but at least I know I
won’t peak in March like last year.
“This year, my best is yet to come.”