Kortnei Johnson

Johnson is from Italy, Texas, United States. She attended Italy High School, where she was a seven-time University Interscholastic League Texas state high school champion in track and field. As Italy High School did not have a running track, she had to train on grass and concrete.{{Cite web |last=Riggs |first=Randy |title=No track, no problem for Class 2A Italy's Kortnei Johnson, now at LSU |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/2017/03/31/no-track-no-problem-for-class-2a-italys-kortnei-johnson-now-at-lsu/10141214007/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Austin American-Statesman |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Track |first=Italy HS Posted Italy Gladiator |date=May 22, 2015 |title=The Meet of Champions |url=https://italyneotribune.com/stories/555f43ff070efd60a6000003.html |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Italy Neotribune |language=en}} She was described as the most successful athlete in Italy HS history, and when she graduated a parade was held in her honor. She was then recruited for the LSU Lady Tigers track and field team; when the LSU coach Dennis Shaver visited Johnson's school, he was surprised by the lack of training facilities. Joining in 2015, she qualified for the 2016 NCAA DI Outdoor Championships in the 100 m, 200 m, and 4 x 100 m in her first series of competition. Though she didn't advance to the finals in the 100 m or 200 m, she won her first national championship in the relay, setting a new Hayward Field record of 42.65 seconds.{{Cite web |last=Information |first=LSU Sports |title=LSU women set record |url=https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/2016/06/12/lsu-women-set-record/27163237007/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=The Courier |language=en-US}}

Johnson would win her first individual NCAA medal at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, placing 3rd in the 200 metres.{{Cite web |last=Willson |first=Judy |date=March 10, 2018 |title=LSU senior Aleia Hobbs win NCAA title in 60 meter dash |url=https://crescentcitysports.com/lsu-senior-aleia-hobbs-win-ncaa-title-in-60-meter-dash/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Crescent City Sports |language=en-US}} At that year's Southeastern Conference outdoor championships, Johnson set an NCAA record and world under-23 best in the 4 × 100 m relay. Running second leg with Mikiah Brisco, Rachel Misher, and Aleia Hobbs, her LSU team split 42.05 seconds.{{Cite web |title=The Best To Ever Do It |url=https://issuu.com/lsuathletics/docs/2021_lsu_track___field_record_book/s/11577957 |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=issuu |language=en}} Later at the outdoor national championships, Johnson only contested the 4 × 100 m relay and won her second national title in that event. It was her final national title, as during her senior season's outdoor championships her 4 × 100 m team lost to the USC Trojans. Johnson competed at the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100 m, but she placed 6th in her semi-final and did not advance to the finals. In September of that year, she was selected as a member of one of the two U.S. 4 × 100 m teams at The Match Europe v USA. Running with Courtne Davis, Kiara Parker, and Kyra Jefferson, her team placed 2nd, losing only to the other U.S. team.

In 2021, Johnson ran a time of 22.40 seconds to finish runner-up in the 200 metres straight at the Adidas Boost Boston Games, making her the #4 performer of all time in that event.{{Cite web |title=Women's 200m |url=http://www.alltime-athletics.com/w_200ok.htm#5 |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=www.alltime-athletics.com}} She also competed at the 2021 United States Olympic trials in the 100 m, failing to advance from the first round. Johnson again did not advance to the finals in the 100 m and 200 m at the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In 2023, Johnson was selected to represent the U.S. at the 2023 Pan American Games in the 100 m and 4 × 100 m relay. She did not advance to the 100 m finals but her relay team did advance. In the finals, Johnson was substituted with Alaysha Johnson. The relay baton was dropped and the U.S. team had to jog to the finish in a time of 1:01.30.{{Cite web |last=Perelman |first=Rich |date=November 3, 2023 |title=TSX REPORT: U.S. cruises past 200 Pan Am medals; U.S. marathon trials race directors blame USATF; Kremlin blasts IOC for "double standard" on Israel |url=https://www.thesportsexaminer.com/tsx-report-u-s-cruises-past-200-pan-am-medals-u-s-marathon-trials-race-directors-blame-usatf-kremlin-blasts-ioc-for-double-standard-on-israel/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=The Sports Examiner |language=en-US}}

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• {{World Athletics|14519052}}

{{Footer 2023 Pan American Games Team USA Track & Field}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1997 births

Category:American female sprinters

Category:21st-century American sportswomen

Category:LSU Lady Tigers track and field athletes

Category:People from Italy, Texas

Category:Track and field athletes from Texas

Category:United States collegiate record holders in athletics (track and field)

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2023 Pan American Games

Category:Pan American Games track and field athletes for the United States

Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners