By Hannah Ossman

Nakiyah Johnson, senior at Cushing High School, is a great asset to their track and field team and is looking forward to finishing out her high school track career on a high note. 

She has been on the track team since she was in seventh grade. Running has never really been something she was interested in, so Nakiyah is a thrower for her team. 

“What I like most about the sport is being able to go out and compete against competitive teams that will make me work harder and throw further,” said Nakiyah. 

Nakiyah also enjoys spending time with her teammates, whether it be at track meets, practices, or just for fun. She loves setting new PR’s with her team, racking up points, and having fun at camp together. 

One of Nakiyah’s favorite moments from track so far is when she competed at state her freshman year. She has goals set for this season to win conference with her team, and for her personally to win a state title. 

Motivation is key to keep athletes on their toes during the season, and for Nakiyah, her main sources of motivation are her teammates and the constant support she receives from her coaches. 

Outside of her role on the track team, Nakiyah also is involved in the advanced health careers program at Central Tech, and she currently plays slow-pitch softball. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and watching TikTok. 

Nakiyah is looking forward to all the future holds for her after graduation, and is excited to go to college and learn and experience new things. She plans on attending Langston University to pursue a degree in nursing. 

Her advice to underclassmen is, “Stick to it, work hard, and just have fun. Enjoy being there with your teammates because before you know it, it will be over.”