La Jolla High Grad Places 9th at Olympics in Women's Kayak 500M

La Jolla-native Carrie Johnson will not advance in the women’s kayak single 500m race at the London Olympics, but she does not have another chance at gold.

Johnson started the 500m race on Tuesday strong, but faded in the second. Johnson, 28, was first to reach the 200-meter mark and third to hit 250 meters, but ended sixth, just 2.396 seconds behind the semifinal’s first place finisher Josefa Idem of Italy. She will, however, race in the women’s kayak single 200m race on Friday where can use that strong start in a shorter race.

The La Jolla High grad told the US Canoe/Kayak that she was not able to keep up her strong start the whole way.

“It’s disappointing not to advance, but I can walk away from that race knowing that I put everything that I had into it,” she said. “With the way the start went, I’m really looking forward to racing the 200(m) in a couple days. That’s been the event that I’ve been better at this year and, personally, that I do like the best of the two.”

U.S. Olympic Sprint Team Coach Stein Jorgensen said Johnson was on the “tough side” of the course on Tuesday. Jorgensen said Johnson faced a side wind and that “nobody from her side of the course qualified this morning at all.”

“Things are looking good for the 200(m), because she got out very well and she’s a natural sprinter. We’re looking for better results in the 200,” he said.

Johnson will race the 200m event on Friday.

Johnson graduated in 2009. She was accepted into UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine and will begin her studies upon return from London.

Her U.S. Olympic Committee profile states that she was introduced to kayaking through the San Diego Junior Lifeguards program.

The 2012 Olympic games will be Johnson’s last. Log online to watch the race at 2:19 a.m., Friday in San Diego or 10:19 a.m. London time.

We will be up on Friday to watch the race. We will have an update shortly after.