CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Illinois pole vaulter Cody Johnston is preparing to go up against the nation’s best in Eugene, Oregon.

Johnson cleared a bar at 5.42m (17-9 1/4) in the NCAA West Preliminaries in College Station, Texas to secure a spot at the NCAA Championships.

Johnston needed all three attempts at three different heights in the preliminary meet. He secured the 12th and final advancement spot from the meet.

“That day was very stressful,” he said. “I guess it just shows that third attempts do count and you can rely on them, but you don’t want to rely on them… I got through it so that’s all that matters.”

He says a headwind in College Station threw him off a bit.

The Illini jumper finished fifth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2024 as a freshman to earn First-Team All-American honors.

“I would say it gives a little bit more confidence on what to expect going into it,” he said of having experience in the national meet. “Now, knowing what I’m going to have to do and what I’m going to go through to prepare, it’ll be a little bit easier.”

Earlier in 2025, he placed eighth at the NCAA Indoor Championships.