GULF SHORES, Ala. (VCSUVikings.com) – Valley City State senior Megan Johnson picked up her first All-American honors Friday night at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.

Johnson, who was competing in her third national meet, broke through with a Top 8 finish in the women’s triple jump on Friday to earn the first All-American honors of her career. Johnson recorded a top mark of 11.53 meters (37 feet, 10 inches) as she placed 7th at nationals.

Johnson entered the triple jump seeded 19th at the national meet, but jumped the third-best distance of her career in prime-time competition Friday night. Her first jump of the day went for 11.43 meters and was good enough to qualify her for finals in the No. 8 spot. On her first attempt of finals, Johnson recorded her top mark of 11.53 meters to move up to 7th place.

Friday’s 7th-place finish caps a strong meet for Johnson, who placed 19th in the long jump on Thursday. She picked up VCSU’s second All-American finish of the meet, joining Kyle Odegard who placed 7th in men’s javelin on Thursday.

This is the first time since 1992 that two different Viking athletes have earned All-American at the same national meet. Wanda Schwab (5th, women’s javelin) and Kendall Railing (8th, men’s 1500 meters) also accomplished that feat at the outdoor nationals in 1992.

Valley City State will wrap up the national meet on Saturday with two throwers competing in women’s discus. Sayge McKrill and Mackenzie Huber are both slated to throw in the event Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.