By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech track & field's Cayla Johnson was named the Ohio Valley Conference Female Freshman of the Week Wednesday afternoon, the first such honor of her career and first weekly accolade for the Golden Eagles in the 2022 campaign.
Competing in her first indoor season as a member of the purple and gold after COVID-19 protocols prevented one last year, Johnson kicked off the year in style at the Ed Temple Classic in Nashville Sunday afternoon. In three events, the rookie collected a pair of medalist finishes while competing at Tennessee State's annual event.
Johnson took top honors in the high jump, clearing 1.65 meters (5'5") for a personal-best mark. She also claimed a first-place finish in the long jump, edging Austin Peay's Camaryn McClelland by a quarter-inch with a leap of 5.32 meters (17'5.5") for another personal indoor record.
She rounded out her weekend by finishing sixth in the 55-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 8.90 seconds for a personal best.
The Golden Eagles return to action at the Commodore Challenge hosted by Vanderbilt in Nashville Friday, Jan. 14 and Saturday, Jan. 15.
File photo by Eastern Illinois Athletics