Former OCHS Runner Breaks 4-Minute Barrier in Mile

Brett Johnson, a 2009 Ocean City High School graduate now competing for the University of Oregon, ran a sub-four-minute mile last Saturday at the University of Washington.

With an official time of 3:58.62, Johnson became just the 14th New Jersey athlete to ever break the 4-minute barrier and the second Ocean City alumnus to join the club.

John Richardson was the first — running 3:59.35 in 2008. Ocean City High School has the unique distinction of being the only high school in New Jersey with two athletes on the list of 14.

Johnson started his collegiate career at the University of Virginia and transferred to the University of Oregon in January. He will graduate in December with a major in psychology.

At Ocean City High School, Johnson ran a 4:08 mile and competed in the Penn Relays mile, Millrose Games mile and the indoor and outdoor National Championships. He was the state 1600-meter champion.

Johnson's 3:58.62 mile last week was in the Husky Classic, an indoor invitational meet at the University of Washington. He was sixth overall and the third collegian.

He became Oregon's ninth sub-four-minute indoor miler and the sixth fastest. His time is also the sixth fastest of any New Jersey athlete.