Posted: May 17, 2005

Athletics: USATF News & Notes, Volume 6, Number 38

Johnson, Demus win in Rio

2003 World Outdoor Championships relay gold medalist Joshua "J.J." Johnson won two sprint events, and Lashinda Demus also posted a win Sunday at the Grande Premio Rio de Atletismo meet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Johnson, who ended the 2004 season ranked #8 in the world (#4 U.S.) at 200 meters, won the men's 100 meters in 10.09 seconds, his fastest time this season. Jamaican Michael Frater was the runner-up in 10.17.

Also entered in the 200 meters, Johnson posted another victory in winning the race in a seasonal best time of 20.45 seconds. Brazil's Vicente de Lima was the runner-up in 20.59 seconds.

In women's events, 2004 Olympian Lashinda Demus won the 400m hurdles in 54.60 seconds, equaling the second-fastest time in the world this year posted April 16 by South Africa's SuritaFebbraio. Kazakhstan's Natalya Torshina-Alimzhanova was the distant runner-up in 56.89 seconds.

In other men's events, Leonard Byrd was the runner-up in the men's 400 meters, finishing the race in 45.25 seconds, with Canada's Christopher Tyler picking up the win in 44.88.

2004 Olympian Walter Davis soared to 16.57 meters/54 feet, 4.50 inches to finish as the runner-up in the men's triple jump. Brazil's Jadel Gregorio, currently the world leader this season in that event, was the winner with a mark of 17.58m/57-8.25, the second best performance in the world this year.

Former pole vaulter wins "Survivor"

New York City firefighter and former track star Tom Westman was voted the winner Sunday night on CBS's reality TV hit, "Survivor Palou."

Born in Queens, New York, Westman attended Archbishop Molloy High School, where he was a peer group counselor and member of the track team. In 1982, he held the school record in the pole vault, 4.42 meters/14 feet, 6 inches, which held for 20 years.

He went on to study history for three years at the State University of New York in Binghamton. In 1985, Westman followed his father's footsteps and joined the New York City Fire Department. He is currently a Lieutenant of Ladder Company 108 in Brooklyn. Simultaneously, he is finishing his undergraduate degree at Queens College, the City University of New York, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.