EUGENE -- Measured linearly, University of Oregon hurdler Alaysha Johnson is 5-foot-3, but she packs an oversized personality.
"She is not a go-along, get-along type person," UO sprints and hurdles coach Curtis Taylor says.
Johnson, a member of her high school debate team, calls herself "outspoken."
"I like to challenge ideas," she says. "I question things a lot. To me, knowledge is power. I'm not the type of person who would want to do something and not know why I'm doing it."
Once convinced there is a reason and the purpose is right, though, Johnson goes all-in.