MORROW, Ga. – More than a week after earning her first ever bid to the NCAA Division II National Championships, Clayton State junior Destiny Johnson (New Iberia, La.) is now just a day away from becoming the ninth woman in the program's history, and third in the high jump, to compete at the championships as she goes Friday, May 24.
 
With a tremendous season already in the books behind her, Johnson punched her ticket to the field of 23 individuals as she cleared a height of 1.72-meters in her last opportunity on Sunday, May 13 at the Mount Olive Last Chance Meet.
 
That height positions her in a tie for the 13^th best mark in Division II this season, which also makes her a legitimate contender for All-American honors, which comes with a top eight finish. Not only is she a contender, the case could be made that it is almost expected when you look at the previous two appearances in the high jump by Kim Larry and Shannon Smith.
 
Both former Clayton State women's basketball players, Larry finished fifth in that event in 2008 and Smith was seventh five years later in 2013. Both were All-Americans. Johnson, however, is the first track & field only athlete to qualify for the high jump in program history.
 
In addition to Smith and Larry's appearances, Johnson joins six other individuals to make an appearance from the women's program. Those are Joni Guffey (Outdoor: 1,500m in 2001 and 2002), Allison Kreutzer (Indoor: 5,000m in 2007 and 2008, Outdoor: 5,000m, 10,000m in 2007, 10,000m in 2008), Angela Cobb (Outdoor: 5,000m in 2007), Jon Taylor (Indoor: Long Jump in 2008), Keisha Etienne (Outdoor: 400m Hurdles) and Jessica Matthews (Indoor: Triple Jump in 2013, 2016, Outdoor: Triple Jump in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016).
 
This year's championships are being held in Kingsville, Texas at Texas A&M-Kingsville and Johnson will compete in the high jump on Friday, May 24 at 6:05 p.m. (EST). The NCAA is expected to have live video coverage on www.NCAA.com with live scoring for that event available on www.ClaytonStateSports.com.
 
2019 NCAA Division II Women's High Jump Competitors (23)
Chinenye Agina, Azusa Pacific
Olga Branney, Malone
Paola Brena, Franklin Pierce
LeGae Brigrance, TAUM-Kingsville
Serena Canegan, New Mexico Highlands
Natalie Caraway, UC San Diego
Chelsea Cheek, TAMU-Commerce
Marisa Gwinner, Tiffin
Ellie Jindra, Ashland
Destiny  Johnson, Clayton State
Jade Jordan, Virginia State
Michelle Juergen, Northern Michigan
Friederike Kallenberg, Point Loma
Victoria Major, Adelphi
Daisy Osakue, Angelo State
Yshire Rhymer-Stuart, Bellarmine
Meleah Ridenour, Southwest Baptist
Dalaney Rogala, Tiffin
Skyler Ruszkowski, Missouri S&T
Skyler Saunders, Washburn
Maddie Taylor, Western Washington
Maidson Ward, Stonehill
Cayli Yarbrough, West Texas A&M
 

Mike  Mead NCAA Championships Preview Interview (5/23/19)