Several Austin-area women can win just about any race they want.

Desiree Ficker comes to mind, as does Chris Kimbrough and Liz Shelton. And add Meredith Johnson to that list.

Johnson has been improving steadily over the past several years, lowering her 5K to a swift 19:05. With wins at the Steiner Ranch 5K, Shoes for Austin 5K, Children's Cup 10K, Daisy 5K, Pflugerfest 5K, and the Bluebonnet 5K, Johnson has had an impressive year.

Just two weeks ago, she claimed an overall win, beating all men and women at the Clean Air 5K in Leander.

Johnson, who graduated from Southwestern University with an education degree in 1999, was a swimmer and soccer player in high school, and she dabbled in track.

When she was 22, a mother's day gift of a baby stroller kicked off her running career. "I'd go out and run for 30-60 minutes just to get my son to go to sleep," she said.

Johnson had no structure to her running until she met and married Henry Fluck, chief of police in Cedar Park.

"I really picked up my running after meeting Henry," she said. "He taught me to change up my workouts so my body would adapt. In order to be able to compete at a high level, you need a lot of help. Henry is my coach and a great supporter -- he makes it all possible."

With the right training, Johnson's improvement has continued at all distances. Personal bests this year include a 1:07:39 for 10 miles and 40:30 for the 10K. She's also a talented triathlete, consistently winning her age group, with a focus on the sprint distance.

A big believer in variety, Johnson may include in her weekly training a 45-minute tempo run, 3-by-1 mile in 6:00 pace or better, hill training and a long run. She also teaches weight training, indoor cycling and aerobics at the Cedar Park YMCA.

"With children, you have to plan your workouts. If you really want to be better, you have to manage your time wisely," she said.

Below is a list of Meredith's 2005 Annual Racing Results:

Cactus Triathlon: 2nd Overall Female/ 1st Age-Group

Burnet Bluebonnet Festival 5K 1st Overall Female

Deuchenfest 5k Race 1st Overall Female

Children's Cup 10K 1st Overall Female

Texas Round-Up 10K 3rd Overall Female/ 1st Age-Group

Sunrise Stampede 5k 1st Overall Female

Daisy 5K 1st Overall Female

Lincoln-Douglas 5K Race (IL) 1st Overall Female

Rockford Westlake Triathlon 2nd Overall Female/1st Age-Group

Capital of TX Triathlon (sprint): 3rd Overall Female/ 1st Age-Group

Danskin Women's Triathlon: 3rd Overall Female/ Elite, no age-group

Boerne Triathlon (olympic): 5th Overall Female/ 1st Age-Group

Sunstroke Stampede 5k (12 Race Series) 1st Overall Female in series

Marble Falls Triathlon 6th Overall Female/ 1st Age-Group

Blanco Grande Triathlon 5th Overall Female/ 2nd Age-Group (*bike crash)

Darndest Du In Texas 5th Overall Female/ 1st Age-Group

Keep Austin Weird 5k 2nd Overall Female

Shoes For Austin 5k 1st Overall Female

Dilloman Triathlon 4th Overall Female/ 2nd Age-Group

"The Runner" (roger soler sports mag) Cover Photo - Summer 2005 edition

Burnet Triathlon 4th Overall Female/ 1st Age-Group

Cedar Perk 5-Miler 2nd Overall Female/1st Age-Group

Jameson 5k 2nd Overall Female/1st Alumni/1st Age-Group

Pervasive Powercharge 10-miler 10th Overall Female (unregistered) - 1:07.39

Littleton, Colorado 10-K 2nd Overall Female/1st Age-Group

Steiner Ranch 5k 1st Overall Female

Clean Air Force 5k 1st Overall Female and Male

Brown Santa 5k 1st Overall Female

On November 15, 2005, the Austin American-Statesman featured SU alumna, Meredith Johnson, in their weekly running article by Brom Hoban, sports reporter. Johnson is currently ranked All-American (Top 5% in Nation) in her age-group by USAT, United States of America Triathlon governing organization. Four years ago, she started a women's triathlon training program at the Northwest YMCA of Austin called "Y-Tri", for which she coordinates and coaches a group of women to compete in the Danskin Women's Triathlon each spring.