Age does not deter hurdler Johnson

Sometimes American high hurdler Allen Johnson wonders if he is in denial.

And why not?

Johnson, who turns 37 today, is competing at the highest level against athletes still in their 20s.

"Then I have a good workout or a good race and I feel like I am not going crazy," Johnson told Reuters in a telephone interview from his Columbia, South Carolina, home.

"I know what I can do."

Next week, Johnson will pack his bags and take a business trip, just like many of his former college classmates.

Except for him business will be in Valencia, Spain, and his assignment will be the world indoor championships, not a sales call.

Speed, technique and determination won Johnson a place on the American team for Valencia with a season's best of 7.53 seconds in Boston.

"Other people are making a bigger deal than I am," said the 1996 Olympic gold medallist and four times world outdoor champion.

"Physically, I pretty much feel the same as I always have. So I expect to continue to make teams."

Johnson has set his sights on a medal in Valencia.

"I am going to try and win, but I think (Cuba's Dayron) Robles will win," Johnson said.

"If I can get second and run 7.45 or better, I will be more than happy with that."

Johnson's ambitions are higher for the Beijing Olympics.

"I have come up with a plan, and if I execute it, I think I can win," said Johnson, who faced hamstring and calf problems in the past two years after falling in the 2004 Olympic quarter-finals.

"I am not one of these track athletes who says since I have achieved all of my goals, I'm going to stop now."

Johnson's inspiration stems from his love of the sport, the travel and the example of other veteran runners.

"Greg Foster ran until he was 37. Roger Kingdom ran to he was 37,"Johnson said.

"Gail Devers and Merlene Ottey also ran extremely well in their upper 30s.

"So, I figured if they could do it, I could at least give it a shot."

Originally Johnson wanted to be a long jumper, high jumper and hurdler, but knee injuries in college led him to compete almost exclusively in the hurdles.

His career spans three Olympics, six world outdoor championships and four indoors, including Valencia.

He said the most difficult part, aside from the aches and pains of age which affect his workouts, was the boredom.

"Nothing is really new to me," Johnson said.

"At first, I was running against my idols. Now my idols are retired, long retired."