—Photo by Matt Bos Manson Northwest webster graduate Jackson Johnson competes in the high jump for Northwestern.

YANKTON, S.D. — Jackson Johnson has plenty of individual goals set for himself.

But the Manson native and Northwestern College track and field standout felt an even bigger sense of accomplishment recently.

Johnson finished first in the high jump at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the Red Raiders.

“It means a lot to do this for my family as well,” said Johnson, a 2016 graduate of Manson Northwest Webster. “To perform well for them and make them proud is one of my biggest goals.”

Northwestern scored three league titles overall and finished fourth in the team standings, with Johnson clearing 6-foot-7.5 for his winning mark. That number also meets the NAIA Provisional standard, which he set earlier this year as well.

Johnson, a junior, has made the all-conference team each of his three years as a Red Raider. He placed third in the high jump as a freshman and sophomore, and has won four outdoor titles this year.

“Winning conference in my final conference meet meant a lot to me personally,” he said. “All the hard work I’ve put in with my coaches at practices over these past three years, and having my parents (Lee and Connie) there to see me perform was something I’ll never forget.

“Being able to look back and see everything I’ve built to get to this point is very humbling.”

Johnson set a meet-record earlier this year at the Buena Vista Invitational when he cleared 6-10. He also claimed titles at Dordt, the Sioux City Relays and his home invite, adding a 16th-place finish at the Drake Relays to his resume.

For his career, Johnson has sixteen Top-10 finishes in 16 outdoor events featuring NAIA jumpers.

Algona graduate Peter Hollinger was second in the 800 in 1:51.9 — less than .5 seconds back of the winner. He also met the NAIA auto mark for the race.

Hollinger also finished third as part of the 4×800 and was on the fifth-place 4×400 relay. The 4×800 met the NAIA Auto mark at 7:38.

The NAIA National Championships are scheduled for May 23-24 in Gulf Shores, Ala.

“Qualifying for nationals means a lot to me because I love competing at high-level events with other great competitors,” Johnson said. “Being able to go and compete against the best jumpers in the nation is an experience like no other and I love the atmosphere behind that high-level competition.”