The Olympic stage is the main event that track and field athletes strive for through their careers. They train year in and year out, studying film and keeping their bodies healthy and strong. Obviously not every track and field athlete makes it to the Olympics, but two Hornet senior sprinters are a step closer to the arena.

Jody Johnson and Raphael McFarlane from the Sacramento State track and field team have qualified for the Olympic trials this year. Johnson qualified in the 200-meter sprints and McFarlane hit his mark in the long jump.

Coach Kathleen Raske said the two athletes always had the potential, they just had to bring everything together to make it happen.

“Jody is a naturally gifted athlete. He is still learning the mentality and the consistency of being a track athlete. He is still young in track and has a lot to learn,” Raske said.

In the first meet of the season, Johnson ran the 200-meters in 21.60, breaking the school record for the indoor 200-meter sprints by .16 of a second, which he set last year.

“Jody will continue to improve and get faster and faster. Breaking his own school record in the first meet just shows the potential he has,” Raske said.

Johnson qualified in the 200-meter sprint last year with his time and keeps on getting faster.

“It was cool…I felt blessed to reach this achievement,” Johnson said.

While Johnson was qualifying on the ground, his teammate was reaching his qualifying mark through the air. McFarlane made school history earlier this season with a jump of 25 feet, 7.75 inches, making him seventh in the NCAA in the long jump this year.

“I’ve pretty much known that Raph was an exceptional athlete and knew he was going to go farther and farther as he jumped. I never put a limit on an athlete’s ability,” jumps coach Terry Van Laningham said.

When speaking with McFarlane, it is as though his jump is one more barrier he had to knock down.

“It still doesn’t matter yet, I am just one step closer,” McFarlane said.

Even though the two athletes qualified in two entirely different events, they still push one another and are happy that they will have a friendly face around to keep their cool. “It feels more comfortable that Jody qualified, but he qualified before me so I am the one jumping on,” McFarlane said.

They also run against each other in the 60-meter sprint and the 200-meter sprint, but they use it to their advantage when they step into the blocks during a race. “I personally like having my teammate there to push as we are racing; I think it makes us go faster because we are that competitive,” Johnson said.

Off the track, these two continue to maintain the bond they have as friends and teammates. McFarlane said they kick it along with some of their teammates during the Super Bowl.

As their track meet takes them to familiar territory at the University of Washington, no one knows what Johnson and McFarlane are capable of doing. One day these two might be carrying the American flag around the track.

David Green can be reached at [email protected]