Abraham Johnson stared at the scoreboard in disbelief.

The Eastern Illinois freshman had qualified for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a personal-best triple jump of 16.10 meters at regionals in College Station, Texas.

When the announcer called his name, the weight of the moment finally hit him.

“I ultimately couldn’t cry because I was still processing,” Johnson said. “But then once I heard my name over the intercom I had to run over to coach [James Gildon and Riley Baker] and let the emotions out. I had been chasing this exact moment and this exact number all season, and to finally achieve it was a blessing.”

Johnson had just accomplished a goal he set long before he ever stepped onto a collegiate track.

“It means a lot,” he said. “I remember before I started competing collegiately, I would always see those boards that said ‘ticket punched’ and I said I was gonna get one of those one day.”

Now he’s one of just 24 triple jumpers in the country heading to the NCAA championships, and one of only four freshmen.

“It’s crazy in my opinion,” Johnson said. “It kinda felt like an underdog story. I was able to pull through, even with the troubles of my spikes almost getting me disqualified.”

That near disqualification came just 20 minutes before regionals.

Johnson said he was on his phone when he came across a post showing banned spike models, and the ones he had worn all season, Nike Triple Jump Elite 2, were on there.

Director of Track & Field James Gildon explained that the responsibility for knowing which spikes are legal lies with the coaches and athletes, not the officials inspecting them. He said there was some confusion because Nike produces several different models.

“The sole was, I think, three millimeters over what it needs to be,” he said, “And the Nike Threes are compliant.”

Luckily, Johnson had other cleats with him. But he had to quickly adjust to competing in Adidas cleats instead of his usual spikes.

For the upcoming competition, Johnson will be competing in the Nike Triple Jump Elite 3, according to Gildon.

Even before that moment, Johnson had been battling what he called the biggest challenge of his season: minor injuries, which included knee pain.

“I have never had knee pain before, but as soon as it came around it messed with me mentally,” he said.

The day before his competition, Johnson said the pain was the worst he had ever really felt before, so he turned to prayer.

“As soon as I got back to the hotel, I pleaded to God to give me a sign that he would be there with me during competition,” he said. “And all of a sudden I wasn’t experiencing any type of knee pain.”

Johnson credits God for his success.

“God has played the biggest part in my journey as a track athlete,” he said. “When I would think all would fail, God came and told and showed me something different.”

Now, with the NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon, on the horizon, Johnson is sticking to what’s worked.

“I am just going to do what I always do,” he said. “Keep putting in that work and putting my faith in Jesus Christ.”

And Gildon said their approach to preparation won’t change much heading into the biggest meet of the season.

“We’re going to prepare like we’ve been preparing,” he said. “In terms of the X’s and O’s and the physical training of it.”

Gildon also emphasized the mental training for what he called the biggest meet Johnson’s ever competed in.

“There’s a lot of opportunity to be distracted with kind of the outside noise and venue,” Gildon said. “So just helping him, kind of staying focused on keeping the main thing the main thing.”

Gildon believes Johnson’s experience will help. Saying Johnson has competed well at championships throughout the year, and Gildon is confident he’ll be locked in when it matters most.

“By the time Friday comes, I’d like to think he’ll be dialed in and ready to go, hopefully being All-American,” he said.

Johnson is the second straight Panther to qualify for the NCAA outdoor championships, following Ramsey Hunt’s runner-up long jump finish last year.

Gildon said the accomplishment reflects the program’s competitive ability and commitment to development.

“It kind of highlights our ability to compete at a high level,” he said. “So hopefully this kind of radiates throughout our region into recruiting and such that you can do it here. And that’s one thing that I want all our student athletes to buy into is that you can do it here at Eastern Illinois University with the coaches, the resources that we have, we can compete at a very high level,” he said.

The championships start Wednesday afternoon at the University of Oregon. The men’s triple jump competition will begin at 5:10 p.m. on Friday. Johnson will compete in flight one. The competition will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The Panthers dropped a 26-24, 16-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-12 showdown against familiar foe North Allegheny on Tuesday in Bellefonte.

The 2025 Central York boys’ volleyball season came to a dramatic but heartbreaking conclusion Tuesday evening, as the Panthers dropped a five-set battle to North Allegheny in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals at Bald Eagle Area High School in Bellefonte.

EUGENE – Arkansas assistant coach Bryan Compton will retire upon the conclusion of his 26th year with the Razorback women’s track and field program following the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships being held this week at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus.

“It’s been a fun ride, and 26 years here for an assistant is a long time to stay at one place,” noted Compton. “That’s a sign of the stability this program has for all the coaches that have been here.

“I’m very fortunate to have 26 years with this program. When I arrived in 1998, we weren’t anywhere close to the top, and we’ve gotten to where we are now from the hard work of a lot of coaches and women who have built this program.”

Accolades that include coaching conference and national champions, World and Olympic medalists, as well as collegiate, international, and American records highlight an impressive and lengthy resume by Compton during his time with the Razorbacks.

Compton has been part of the Arkansas women’s program as it achieved nine NCAA team titles and 40 SEC team championships, which includes 14 SEC Indoor and 10 SEC Outdoor team titles.

“Ever since I joined the staff as a volunteer back in 2000 and then coming back in 2012, he’s been a mainstay with the program,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “His resume stands alone and we’re fortunate to have had him. He has a passion for the sport. It’s going to be very difficult to replace him if you will. I think he’s irreplaceable in terms of what he’s been able to do at the University of Arkansas.

“He helped Coach Harter develop the program to the point we have it, and when I took over he’s been a great help in pushing this program forward. Any time you get to coach for 40 years, with 26 of them being at the University of Arkansas, it’s impressive.”

Compton established an elite group of pole vaulters at Arkansas, and he also had a hand in developing athletes in multiple field events as well as combined events.

A total of 11 national champions, with nine attained in the pole vault, were coached by Compton. The two additional NCAA titles came in assisting with Taliyah Brooks, who won the 2018 NCAA Indoor heptathlon, and Rachel Glenn, who equaled the collegiate record of 6-6.75 (2.00) in winning the 2024 NCAA Indoor high jump.

Honors among the athletes coached by Compton include 93 All-Americans, a Bowerman semifinalist and finalist, five Olympians, and an Olympic silver medalist with Sandi Morris at the 2016 Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro.

Morris also claimed a pair of World Indoor gold medals in 2018 and 2022 while earning three silver medals at World Outdoor Championships in 2017, 2019, and 2022.

“You dream of it as a coach of having athletes in the Olympics,” said Compton. “The kids have a great talent, but to make a USA team is hard to do in any event.

“I’m very fortunate to have the Olympians and even the international kids like Tina Sutej and Makeba Alcide, who went on to compete in the Olympics and World Championships as well. It’s something I’ll always cherish.”

Compton managed to accomplish those impressive achievements at Arkansas from very basic beginnings.

“When I arrived in 1998, there were no pole vaulters and no poles,” Compton noted. “It was really just getting started. April Steiner was the first 13-footer in the SEC, and we really thought that was a big thing back then. Now, you don’t even place at conference with a 13-foot mark.

“April was the first of almost everything here. She wasn’t the first pole vaulter here, but she was the first All-American, the first SEC champion, and the first Olympian in Beijing. April was one that got it all kicked off for us and we kept it rolling from there.”

Early success drew interest in the program and the pole vault became a vital point-producing event for the Razorbacks on the conference and national level.

“Pole vault is one of those events that can collect talent,” Compton said. “Once you have a program it’s a lot easier to recruit. They hear about it and want to know what the coaching is like and plus the winning part of it. They gravitate to whatever program is doing well, and we were fortunate to have all the ones that came through here.

“I’ve got one son, and I have a ton of daughters I feel like. I get to watch them grow up, get married, and have kids. They come back and bring their kids to visit you. It’s really rewarding to be part of their life in some part, and they feel the same way.”

Five Razorback vaulters combined for nine national championships in the pole vault, and seven vaulters totaled nine silver medal finishes at NCAA Championships.

Claiming NCAA Indoor titles were Tina Sutej (2011, 2012), Sandi Morris (2015), Lexi Jacobus [nee Weeks] (2016, 2018, 2019), and Amanda Fassold (2023). NCAA Outdoor titles were attained by Jacobus (2016) and Tori Hoggard [nee Weeks] (2019).

On the conference level Arkansas has totaled 26 SEC titles in the pole vault, 12 at SEC Indoor and 14 at SEC Outdoor.

“At first you claw your way up to get the first SEC title, then you claw your way to get that first national title,” said Compton. “Then keeping it up there at a high level is such hard work for the girls, coaches, training staff, and everybody. It’s rewarding as well.”

Coaching honors for Compton include being named Indoor National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2019. He received three region Assistant Coach of the Year accolades in the South Central (2017, 2019) and Mideast Region (2005).

With the 2025 NCAA Track and Field Championships rapidly approaching, take a look at the top 10 sprinters in each event, ranked by time. See who the top competitors are and who has the fastest time going into the championship meet. Competitions will begin on June 12 from Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. 

Here are the top 10 sprinters in each event based on their fastest time of the season. 

NCAA Men’s 100M 

• 1. Jordan Anthony, Arkansas — 9.75
• 2. Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, South Florida — 9.86
• 3. Israel Okon, Auburn — 9.91
• 3. Taylor Banks, USC — 9.91
• 5. Max Thomas, USC — 9.92
• 6. Garrett Kaalund, USC — 9.93
• 7. Kalen Walker, Iowa — 9.94
• 8. Kanyinsola Ajayi, Auburn — 9.95
• 8. Mason Lawyer, Washington St. — 9.95
• 10. Eddie Nketia, USC — 9.96

NCAA Women’s 100M

• 1. Indya Mayberry, TCU — 10.91
• 1. Tima Godbless, LSU — 10.91
• 3. Leah Bertrand, Ohio State — 10.92
• 4. Shenese Walker, Florida State — 10.98
• 5. Dajaz Defrand, USC — 11.00
• 5. JaMeesia Ford, South Carolina — 11.00
• 5. Kaila Jackson, Georgia — 11.00
• 8. Victoria Cameron, Tarleton State — 11.01
• 8. Anthaya Charlton, Florida — 11.01
• 8. Joella Lloyd, Florida State — 11.01

NCAA Men’s 200M

• 1. Makanakaishe Charamba, Auburn — 19.79
• 2. T’Mars McCallum, Tennessee — 19.83
• 3. Garrett Kaalund, USC — 19.85
• 4. Carli Makarawu, Kentucky — 19.92
• 5. Jordan Anthony, Arkansas — 19.93
• 6. Jaleel Croal, South Florida — 19.95
• 6. Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, South Florida — 19.95
• 8. Jaiden Reid, LSU — 19.97
• 9. Xavier Butler, Texas — 20.02
• 10. Max Thomas, USC — 20.05

NCAA Women’s 200M 

• 1. JaMeesia Ford, South Carolina — 22.01
• 2. Madison Whyte, USC — 22.16
• 3. Jasmine Montgomery, Texas A&M — 22.17
• 4. Indya Mayberry, TCU — 22.30
• 5. Dajaz Defrand, USC — 22.33
• 6. Tiriah Kelley, Baylor — 22.34
• 7. Camryn Dickson, Texas A&M — 22.39
• 8. Dejanea Oakley, Georgia — 22.43
• 9. Victoria Cameron, Tarleton State — 22.51
• 10. Jassani Carter, USC — 22.52

About Hayward Field

Hayward Field, which was built in 1919, is no stranger to top-tier track and field events, including the Diamond League and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

The venue is named after Bill Hayward, who ran the University of Oregon track and field program from 1904 to 1947. Though it originally was intended for Ducks football, many additions and renovations over the century have helped it become a premier destination.

In September 2023, the venue became the first facility outside of Zurich or Brussels to host the two-day season-ending Wanda Diamond League Final, where the year’s 32 overall champions were crowned.

What Schools Won The Team Titles At The 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s And Women’s Outdoor Track And Field Championships?

The Arkansas women took home the outdoor team title in 2024, sweeping the indoor and outdoor championships for the 2023-2024 season.

Florida, led by legendary head coach Mike Holloway, secured the men’s title in 2024, giving the Gators three consecutive outdoor men’s titles. Florida became the first team to three-peat since Texas A&M (2009-2011).

What Schools Have Won The Most Titles At The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track And Field Championships?

The NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships first was held in 1921. 

USC owns the most men’s titles with 25, while Arkansas is the only other program with 10 or more (10).

The NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships first was held in 1982. 

LSU has won the most women’s titles with 14. The next-closest is Texas with five.

From FloTrack YouTube

Check out these potential future collegiate stars: Incredible Finish In 8-Year-Old 4×1 National Championship

FloTrack Is The Streaming Home For Many Track And Field Meets Each Year

Don’t miss all the track and field season action streaming on FloTrack. Check out the FloTrack schedule for more events.

FloTrack Archived Footage

Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Join The Track & Field Conversation On Social

NASHUA – The Bears have shown time and again this season that when they’re playing their game, they’re just about impossible to stop. Coe-Brown displayed its brand of volleyball all evening in Tuesday’s semifinal on the floor of Nashua High School North. Excellent serving, aggressive defense and contributions from several players led the No. 1 Coe-Brown Northwood Academy boys’ volleyball team (18-0) to a win in straight sets, 25-16, 25-5, 25-17, over No. 4 Pinkerton (14-4), sending the Bears to the program’s first ever championship appearance.

Coe-Brown will play No. 3 Hollis-Brookline (16-2) in Saturday night’s final. The Cavaliers defeated No. 2 Dover, 3-2, in the first semifinal.

The outcome of the second semifinal was never really in doubt. Junior setter Oliver Ford (35 assists) had a nice service run early in the first set to help Coe-Brown take a 5-1 lead. Although the Astros battled back to stay within a couple points of the Bears for most of set one, senior captain and libero Ryan Kouchoukos (17 digs) led a 5-0 run with his service later in the set to help CBNA close it, 25-17.

Senior Will Marshall went on a 10-point service run and juniors Istvan Miko (eight kills, three blocks) and Tyler Fuller (seven kills, four digs, 1.5 blocks) had huge plays at the net to help Coe-Brown build a 12-1 lead in set two before the Bears ultimately won 25-5.

“The guys played great. We were ready. Great energy to start,” Coe-Brown head coach Ryan Smith said. “I thought we did a great job spreading the ball around. A bunch of hitters got involved tonight, and I think our serving and our defense is what set the tone. We tried to force Pinkerton to make plays on its own and let the game come to us.”

Pinkerton took its first lead of the entire match early in the third set, leading 4-1 to start, and eventually took its biggest lead, 10-6, before Coe-Brown called a timeout.

“We were just a little out of sorts,” Smith said. “We used that timeout to calm ourselves down. (Pinkerton) did a good job throwing some different stuff at us and we were in our heads a little bit. We took a timeout just to let them breathe for 30 seconds and to refocus.”

CBNA responded with strong service from Ford and Marshall to tie the set, 13-13, and a kill by Fuller put Coe-Brown back on top, 14-13. Fuller also hit a rocket of a shot down the middle of the floor for an emphatic match point.

“We just wanted to go in and play our game, not focus on mistakes we made,” said senior co-captain and libero Ryan Kouchoukos. “We just went out there and played our game. When we play our game, we’re at our best.”

What do the players consider Coe-Brown volleyball? 

“Dive to the floor,” Kouchoukos said. “There are no balls that hit the ground. We want to be everywhere. As a team we agree, if the ball hits the floor, that’s on us. That’s on everybody. Our defense is great, but we have great hitters. The reason our defense can be so great is because we have the best blocking pressure out there.”

Senior co-captain Bruce Marshall (eight kills), fellow senior Ben Silvester (five kills) and junior Luke Corriveau (nine kills) joined Fuller and Miko as the team’s top hitters.

The Bears will need contributions from everyone in order to keep pace with Hollis-Brookline in Saturday’s championship match, which is currently scheduled to start at 4 p.m. in the Nashua HS North gymnasium. The Cavaliers are three-time defending champions, while Coe-Brown is in its first final.

The Bears only made the final four for the first time two years ago, and, 12th year head coach Smith remembers, it was just 10 years ago that his squad was winless.

“We went 0-16 in 2015. To flip it 10 years later, it says a lot about the guys,” Smith said. “Getting other guys involved, guys who want to play. It’s really all them. They’ve wanted this since the first game of the season.”

San Marcos senior-to-be Cora Loomer earned her “AAA” beach volleyball rating by winning the California Beach Volleyball Association women’s “AA” tournament in Huntington Beach in mid-April.

Loomer and Redondo Union High standout Addison Junk defeated Alanna Shields/Jasmin Suarez, 21-14, in the final. Loomer and Junk went 6-0 in the tournament to claim the highest rating for an amateur beach volleyball player.

The 6-foot-2 Loomer, a UCLA beach volleyball commit, has since played in three women’s open division tournaments and reached the semifinals in two: at L.A. Dockweiler Beach on June 8 with Julia Anisimova of Kansas, and at Ocean Park in Santa Monica on June 1 with Shayla Martinez of Chaminade High, a University of Washington commit for beach volleyball.

Senior Josie Gamberdella, who partnered with Loomer during the high school beach volleyball season and dominated the Channel League, earned league MVP honors and placed fifth in the CIF-SS Individual Championships, won her AA rating last month. She and partner Keely McIlroy won the CBVA Hermosa Women’s A on May 25. Gamberdella and McIlroy, of Carlsbad, both signed to play college beach volleyball at Long Beach State.

On the men’s side, San Marcos underclassmen Matteo Burdick and Keanu Nguyen earned their AA beach rating after reaching the semifinals of the CBVA Belmont Shores Men’s AA. Burdick and Nguyen are entering the junior years at San Marcos. They led the Royals to the Channel League title in indoor boys volleyball this spring.

Also earning a AA rating is the local duo of Nate Holmes and Rowan Peake. They reached the semifinals at the Dockweiler AA last Saturday.