Gwinnett Prep Sports

North Gwinnett grad Kibwe Johnson finished ninth in the hammer throw Sunday in the Olympics.

LONDON — In his first Olympic appearance, North Gwinnett grad Kibwe Johnson finished ninth in the hammer throw finals Sunday.

Johnson's best throw was 74.95 meters (245 feet, 10 inches), similar distances to what he threw to win U.S. Olympic Trials (74.97/245-11) earlier this summer. It was considerably less than his career best of 80.31 (266-9), which won the 2011 USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships. His best toss of the finals came on his second throw and he fouled on his third and final attempt.

Hungary's Krisztian Pars won the gold medal at 80.59 (264-5).

The 31-year-old Johnson made in his first Olympic appearance in London this summer after disappointing finishes at U.S. Olympic Trials in 2004 and 2008 kept him off those Olympic teams.