Newberry athlete featured in Eastbay commercial

KRISTINA ORREGO/Alachua County Today

Newberry High School's Kamryn James Johnson demonstrates his video scene in the Eastbay commercial popularized by the hashtag "#UpEarlyStayLate."

NEWBERRY – First, his foot is seen digging into a red-orange track. Then, among a mirage of sweaty faces and fixed stares, the chant of men singing in unison is heard in the background.

“This is an Eastbay athlete’s spring,” the narrator of the commercial says. “It’s tough and sweaty. It gets up early and stays up late. It grunts with effort and hollers with pride. This is what we find beautiful -- long, hard work.”

In a sudden flash, two track runners are seen going at lightning speed. The one in gray is in the lead.

“And that’s how we like it,” the narrator concludes. “And that’s how we win. From the field, to the pitch, to the track. Get the best to be your best, at Eastbay.com.”

The camera focuses on the runner in grey before it fades to black.

That runner is 17-year-old Kamryn James Johnson, a junior at Newberry High School.

Eastbay published this recent video, titled “Eastbay Spring Sports: Effort is Everything,” on YouTube on Feb. 1.

The video is part of the brand’s new campaign of the same name and is being popularized by the hashtag, “#UpEarlyStayLate.”

Johnson, who is also a model at the Manikin Model and Talent Agency, said he received an email about being in the commercial from the agency as he was getting ready to go to school.

Then he traveled to Miami for the casting, which was about two hours long.

“They had me run, [and] do some stretches,” he said. “And then on the way home from Miami, they called me right back and told me I got the spot.”

He said he was amazed to see the final product because, despite shooting several scenes for about six hours, he didn’t know which parts would actually be in the commercial.

Johnson has run track since his freshman year at Newberry High. He placed first in District championships in the 400m dash that same year.

In 2015, he joined the AAU Track and Field team and received multiple gold, silver and bronze awards in the 100m dash, 200m dash and 400m dash events.

He’s currently training to be in AAU’s Junior Olympic Games and will compete in the qualifiers at Florida State University in June. If he makes it through, he will compete in the Jr. Olympic games in August.

Johnson said Eastbay’s slogan “Effort is everything” not only applies to his athletic achievements, but also a mindset he applies to other aspects of his life.

“It’s what I go by,” he said. “Without effort, you’ll just be one of the regulars. You have to put in extra hours to be the best.”

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