Miller-Johnson: Still a multi threat

Gi-Gi Miller-Johnson was part of a successful time for Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field. In 2000, she was one of three Arkansas heptathletes to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships and come away with All-America honors.

In addition to group success, Miller-Johnson also picked up an NCAA individual title. A threat in numerous events, Johnson won her crown in the indoor triple jump. At the 2001 NCAA Indoor Championships she marked a leap of 44-4 to take the win. Miller-Johnson made history as the first Razorback field national champion.

During her Arkansas career, Johnson picked up four All-America honors. At the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships, she earned a runner-up finish in the heptathlon with a score of 5,777 points. Her win in the triple jump at the 2001 NCAA Indoor Championships earned All-America status. At the 2001 NCAA Outdoor Championships, she finished seventh in the heptathlon (5,437 points) and earned a runner-up finish in the triple jump (43-1.75).

On the SEC level, Miller-Johnson was the 2001 SEC Outdoor Champion in the heptathlon. She scored 5,704 points for the victory and she led a 1-2-4 finish for Arkansas in the event. DeeDee Brown-Campbell was second and Jamie Walker was fourth.

Miller-Johnson’s name is splashed throughout the record book. She holds the indoor triple jump mark (44-4), the outdoor triple jump best (44-7.5) and the school record in the outdoor heptathlon (5,925 points). Additionally, she holds the top three indoor triple jump marks in school history and the top five outdoor triple jumps in school history.

She continues to hold three heptathlon event records and point-total records. Miller-Johnson holds the Arkansas best in the heptathlon 100-meter hurdles (13.11), the heptathlon 200 meters (23.65) and the heptathlon 800 meters (2:13.98). She also marked the best first-day point total (3,720 points) and the best second-day point total (2,269 points) in school history.

In the professional ranks, she was 2006 USA Outdoor Champion in the heptathlon after earning a runner-up finish in 2005. She earned a bronze finish in the event at the USA Championships in 2001.

At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., Miller-Johnson narrowly missed her trip the Olympic Games with a fourth-place finish in the heptathlon. She earned 6,247 points, a personal best.

Internationally, she was a member of Team USA the 2001 World University Games in Beijing, China, and at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

Miller-Johnson lives and trains in State College, Pa. where her husband, Chris Johnson, is the associate head track and field coach at Penn State.

The University of Arkansas’ Athletic Department recognizes its heritage and the countless contributions made by African-American student-athletes in all 19 of its varsity sports. The Razorbacks are proud to celebrate this great tradition and recognize some of the inspiring pioneers, great student-athletes and outstanding role models that have worn a Razorback uniform as a part of Black History Month.