April 21, 2000

FORMER NFL STARS BILLY "WHITE SHOES" JOHNSON
& JAMES LOFTON SEEK WORLD RECORD IN MASTERS TRACK

Former NFL wide receivers BILLY "WHITE SHOES" JOHNSON and JAMES LOFTON seek to add a world record in the 400-meter relay to their impressive athletic resumes at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia next Friday, April 28.

Johnson, the Atlanta Falcons’ Player Programs coordinator, and Lofton will team with BILL COLLINS and CHUCK HUNTER for the Houston Elite club team in the Masters 40-49-year-old division. The quartet, competing together for the first time, is aiming to break the world Masters record of 42.79 set in 1992 by a Houston Elite team which included Collins.

"It’s going to be a lot of fun," said Johnson, a three-time Pro Bowl player in the NFL, who runs with Falcons players each morning as part of his training. "We see this as something competitive to challenge us. We feel we can push for the record."

Lofton, who is also running in the mile relay on Saturday, April 29, ranks second in NFL history with 14,004 receiving yards for the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles. Lofton is currently a sportscaster.