Johnson fifth at nationals

Alyssa Johnson ran well enough to qualify 10th for the national championship race in the 1,500 meters. With the title on the line, she was even better.

The 2006 Jay County High School graduate ran second for a large portion of the race before finishing fifth in the 1,500 run May 23 at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Southern Illinois.

Johnson became Taylor University's first All-American in the event. The last Trojan to earn All-American honors in any event was Christel Deal in the 400 hurdles in 2003.

The junior stayed with the pack during the first lap before pushing to second place at the close of the second lap. She remained trailing only Purity Biwott of Wayland Baptist for the next 500 meters, and finally finished in fifth place.

Her time of 4-minutes, 35.29 seconds broke her own school record in the 1,500 meters.

She has lowered the mark three times in her career at Taylor.

Amanda Johnson

Jay County - 2008

Also competed at the NAIA national championships, helping Indiana Wesleyan to earn All-American honors.

Johnson ran in the preliminaries of the 4x800-meter relay for the Wildcats, joining teammates Angi Wolgemuth, Lindsey Waggoner and Cassidy Wagner.

The group finished second in Heat 3, earning an automatic trip to the finals with their time of 9-minutes, 12.52 seconds.

Indiana Wesleyan changed its lineup for the finals, with Kailee Whitaker replacing Johnson. The team ran a time of 9:12.44 to finish in sixth place and earn All-American honors.

Johnson also competed in the 800 run, in which she was a three-time state qualifier and 2008 state medalist in high school. She placed seventh in her heat and 13th overall in 2:15.77.[[In-content Ad]]