DALLAS (SMU) - Sprinter Latessa Johnson's first year on SMU's campus has been an eventful one for the freshman from Dallas. Her accomplishments on the track have included wins in 100 and 200-meter events both indoors and outdoors this season along with a top-four time in the nation in the 200.

"If I were to describe this year so far in one word it would be transition," Johnson said. "The intensity is increased, I'm learning so much and I've met so many great people in my teammates and coaches, it's a good change."

Johnson's most recent feat came at the Bobcat Invitational on April 2 when she won the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.75. That time was not only her personal record but it is also the fourth best time in the 200 across the nation.

The 200-meter dash is a race Johnson has extreme confidence in and the results show for it as she has improved her times meet after meet and won the event at multiple meets this season. One of her biggest wins of the season came at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships where she broke the conference record with a time of 23.48.

"The 200 is my race, I feel like I was born to run the 200-meter" Johnson said. "I was a little disappointed that my time [at the AAC Indoors] didn't qualify me for nationals but winning and breaking a conference record was really special to me."

Not only did she win the 200-meter dash at the AAC Indoor Championships but she competed in the finals of the 60-meter dash earlier on the same day. Johnson's ability to compete in the 60 and win the 200 was one of the key moments of her season according to track and field head coach Cathy Casey.

"We knew from day one that she was special, she doesn't care who's around, she's just a competitor," Casey said.

Casey also credits the sprint program led by coach Tony Miller who has been in charge of the Mustang sprinters since 2006-07. Miller thinks that even earlier in the season was when Johnson really took her first step forward into being a national level sprinter.

"When she ran 23.80 at New Mexico, that was something that really stuck out to me," Miller said. "Out of high school she had talent but she still has a lot she can do to grow mentally, she can accomplish great things by learning and trusting the process."

Johnson has taken Miller's message to heart this season and has developed a different mental approach to running by also learning from SMU seniors Craishia Washington and Lucija Cvitanovic.

"Craishia and Lucija have helped me a ton this season," Johnson said. "They've told me it's not about place and time but about getting better each week. Coach Miller has also told me that track is a process, I can't win every meet and that I need to win the meets that matter."

Miller even goes as far as to compare Johnson to the Olympic Gold Medalist for USA Track and Field, Allyson Felix. Miller says Johnson could develop into a world class athlete with potential to compete in multiple events like the 100 and 200.

Johnson has had some success in the 100-meter dash since moving to the outdoor season, winning the 100 at the UTA Invitational with a time of 11.52 on April 26. Her other top times in the 100 include a 11.58 time at the TCU Invitational and a 11.60 at the Bobcat Invitational.

Johnson will hope to help lead SMU to a third straight AAC Outdoor Championship and knows she has a lot of improving to do during her time as a Mustang.

"I still need to make improvements to my technique, work on my mental game and just get more used to competing at a higher level," Johnson said.