NAMPA, Idaho – Normally, Nate Johnson doesn't look forward to running the 1,000 meters at the end of an indoor men's heptathlon competition.
 
But this time, he can hardly wait.
                              
Johnson delivered two personal-best performances among Friday's four events, and has himself in second place overall heading into the final three events on Saturday morning at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships.
                              
The Seattle Pacific junior racked up 2,558 points in competition at Jackson's Track at the Idaho Center. Johnson, whose trademark is consistency, definitely displayed that on Friday, with three third places and a tie for third in the four events. He trails only Jake Hyde of Western Oregon, whose tally through four stands at 2,709.
                              
A native of nearby Boise, Johnson is 61 points ahead of the 2,497 he had after the first day in 2011, when he went on win the title with 4,576. He came into this weekend's meet off a PR of 4,679 points at the UW Invitational on Jan. 27-28.
 
“Overall, I felt like this was a more successful day,” Johnson said. “I was a lot happier with my marks. At the UW, I felt like I died off after the first two events. But today was even-keel through the whole thing.
 
On Saturday's docket are the 60-meter hurdles, the pole vault, and the 1,000. The first two are among his favorite events. The last race usually isn't, but Johnson senses things are changing.
 
“I'm excited to run the 1,000,” Johnson said. “After a few years, I'm more comfortable doing it – and I did have that PR at the UW (2:48.22, more than five seconds faster than his previous best from 2011).
 
Johnson started Friday with a 7.40 in the 60-meter dash, .02 faster than his previous lifetime best and good for third place overall. He went 20 feet, 5 inches for third in the long jump for third, then obliterated his PR in the shot put with a heave of 36-9½. The farthest he had ever thrown before was 35-6¾ last season.
 
“I've been waiting for a good throw like that,” Johnson said. “I've had some good practices, but I haven't done that in a meet.”
 
He finished the day by clearing 5-10½ in the high jump, tying for third.
 
SPU's only scoring entry on Friday was the 4,000-meter distance medley relay team, which finished eighth in 10:45.41.
 
 
 
NCAA MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
GNAC Championships / Day 1
Friday, February 17, 2012
Jackson's Track / Nampa, Idaho
 
Team scoring – 1, Central Washington 41; 2, Western Washington 31 ½; 3, Montana State Billings 23; 4, Western Oregon 22 ½; 5, Simon Fraser 14; 6, Saint Martin's 12; 7, Northwest Nazarene 11; 8, Seattle Pacific 1.
 
Heptathlon (through 4 of 7 events, final 3 events on Saturday) – 1, Jake Hyde (WOU) 2,709; 2, Nate Johnson (SPU) 2,558; 3, Jason Caryl (CWU) 2,551; 4, Scott Hunter (CWU) 2.545; 5, Brandon Roddewig (
Heptathlon 60-meter dash – 1, Hyde (WOU) 7.34 (765 points). SPU placer – 3, Johnson 7.40 (745).
Heptathlon long jump – 1, Hyde (WOU) 22-5 / 6.83m (774 points). SPU placer – 3, Johnson 20-5 / 6.22m (635).
Heptathlon shot put – 1, Kilgore (CWU) 41-1 / 12.52m (638 points). SPU placer – 3, Johnson 36-9 ½ / 11.21m (559).
Heptathlon high jump – 1, Hunter (CWU) 6-2 / 1.88m (619 points). SPU placer – T3, Johnson 5-10 ½ / 1.79m (619).
 
FINALS
4,000 distance medley relay – 1, Simon Fraser 10:04.58. SPU placer – 8, Seattle Pacific 10:45.41.
High jump – 1, Brennan Boyes (CWU) 6-9 / 2.06m. No SPU competitors.
Long jump – 1, Manny Melo (CWU) 23-2 ¾ / 7.08m. No SPU competitors.
Shot put – 1, Tanner Rottrup (MSUB) 49-7 / 15.11m. No SPU competitors.
 
PRELIMINARIES
60-meter dash – 1, Rimar Christie (NNU) 6.96. No SPU finals qualifiers. SPU placer – 9, David Ferguson 7.27.
60-meter hurdles – 1, Brett Campbell (WOU) 8.45. No SPU competitors.