NIL Opportunities

Pole Vault Big Ten Champion (Outdoor '25)

3x All-American - Pole Vault ('24 Outdoor, '25 Indoor & Outdoor)

3x NCAA Championships Qualifier

First-Team All-Big Ten // 2025 Outdoor (Pole Vault)

Second-Team All-Big Ten // 2024 Outdoor (Pole Vault)

2025

Indoor

• NCAA All-American (Pole Vault)
• Placed eighth at the NCAA Indoor Championships tying his personal-best pole vault to earn All-America honors, 5.61m (18-4 3/4)
• Cleared the program's second-best pole vault in his win at the Tyson Invitational, 5.61m (18-4 3/4)
• Placed first in the pole vault at five meets this season — clearing 5.46m (17-11) at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, 5.43m (17-9 3/4) at both the Fighting Illini Challenge and Fighting Illini Open, a season-best 5.52m (18-1 1/4) at the Hoosier Horsepower Classic, and a personal-best 5.61m (18-4 3/4) to win the title at the Tyson Invitational
• Placed sixth in the pole vault at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, 5.35m (17-6 1/2)

Outdoor

• NCAA All-American (Pole Vault)
• Big Ten Champion (Pole Vault)
• First-Team All-Big Ten (Pole Vault)
• NCAA Championships qualifier (Pole Vault)
• Became the program's first Big Ten Champion in the pole vault in 31 years on a voided meet record mark of 5.64m (18-6)
  • 10th Illini vaulter to earn gold and brings home the program's 13th individual B1G title
• Placed seventh in the pole vault at the NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn All-America honors, 5.53m (18-1 3/4)
  • First Illini men's pole vaulter to earn All-America honors in consecutive seasons since Dean Starkey last achieved it 36 years ago in 1988 and 1989
  • Collected the program's 16th outdoor NCAA First-Team All-America honor in the event
• Academic All-Big Ten

2024

Indoor

• Cleared the program's seventh-best vault at the Tiger Paw Invitational in his second-place finish, 5.38m (17-7 3/4)
• Placed fourth in the pole vault at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, 5.13m (16-10)

Outdoor

• First-Team All-American (Pole Vault)
• Second-Team All-Big Ten (Pole Vault)
• NCAA Championships qualifier (Pole Vault)
• Placed fifth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the pole vault to earn First-Team All-American honors, 5.52m (18-1 1/4)
  • First Illinois freshman ever to earn All-America honors in the pole vault
• Placed second in the pole vault at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, 5.46m (17-11)
• Placed third in the pole vault at the NCAA West Preliminaries to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, 5.42m (17-9 1/4).
• Cleared the program's third-best pole vault at the Florida Relays, 5.60m (18-4 1/2)

High School

• 2023 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year
• 3x All-American
• 4x State Champion (2x indoor and 2x outdoor, 2022 and 2023)
• Earned three varsity letters in football, four in basketball and four in track
• PBs: Pole vault - 5.33m (17-6)

Personal

Son of Jim and Heather Johnston... His brother, Riley, is also a pole vaulter on the team... Chose Illinois because he has "the best coach in college" in Dennis Mitchell... Lists his father, uncle and older brother as his biggest influences in his athletic career.

TFRRS Profile