Throwback: 13yo Cha'iel Johnson Rolls For 800m Win At AAU

Today, we throw it back to an epic 800m race from 2018 between 13-year-old stars Cha'iel Johnson, Samantha Kavanagh and Krianne McBride.

All three athletes were among the leaders of their age groups in the half-mile heading into the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa. 

But this one went down to the very last steps. 

Through 400 meters, all three ladies were side-by-side. 

But after Kavanagh made a move with 200m left, Johnson shifted into another gear and claimed her latest AAU title, defending her crown.

RESULTS

Girls 800 Meter Run 13 years old
   National:2:07.65 N  8/1/2012 Daesha Rogers, Miami Gardens, FL
    Name                      Yr  Team                         Finals
Finals
  1  #4700 Cha'Iel Johnson     05, Miami Gardens Xpress Trac    2:13.81                  
  2  #2051 Samantha Kavanagh   05, Down South Xtreme Sports     2:16.84                  
  3  #7209 Krianne McBride     05, Texas Thunder Track Club     2:17.43                  
  4  #5630 Michaela Mccall     05, Pearland Track Xpress        2:18.60                  
  5  #5378 Emma Hoang          05, North Texas Jackrabbits      2:18.89                  
  6  #3909 Tai Sheppard        05, Jeuness Track Club           2:19.50                  
  7  #2452 Chesney Wilke       05, Fca Track Club               2:20.05                  
  8  #1161 Camryn Hubbard      05, Blues Track Club of Great    2:20.17                  
  9  #5464 Emoni Saxton        05, Ohio Heat                    2:21.44                  
 10  #9289 Marissa Magana      05, Wolf Pack                    2:24.43                  
 11  #5369 Shiloh Brooks       05, North Texas Jackrabbits      2:25.95                  
 12  #3903 Chioma Ezike        05, Jeuness Track Club           2:32.28  

WHERE ARE THEY NOW:

Four years later, Johnson, McBride and Kavanagh are all closing in on their final years -- or have closed their high school careers -- on the track.

McBride, a multiple-time AAU Junior Olympic Games champion over her tenure, graduated from high school -- she was homeschooled -- early and signed with the University of Texas at Arlington. She finished her final season with PRs of 59.74 for 400m, 2:11.80 for 800m and 4:38.21 for 1,500m

Kavanagh, meanwhile, is coming off a second-place finish in the 800m at the FHSAA Class 3A Championships in May, where the Oakland Park Northeast junior ran a PR of 2:08.47 -- her second straight runner-up finish. She's also run a best of 56.31 in the 400m.

Johnson, meanwhile, has gone on to immense success. Recently, the St. Thomas Aquinas junior won her second straight 800m title in 2:08.35 -- beating Kavanagh -- while she also recorded times of 24.49w in the 200m and 54.93 on the season. 

Back in 2013: Cha'iel Johnson: The Social Media Star