Arlington Martin senior Kerragan Johnson chasing 2028 Paralympic dream in LA

When it comes to running, one typically thinks of legs. In the case of Arlington Martin senior Kerragan Johnson, however, she faces an additional challenge.

She was born without a right hand after having an amniotic band wrapped around her arm, cutting off circulation. Being without a hand can offset running because it impairs balance, something she has had to overcome - and has done so successfully.

“I’ve learned to adapt to my physical impairment. It does make competing a bit harder due to balance and starts, but there are tools I can use to help,” Johnson said. “My impairment pushes me to be better and work harder.”

Her goal is to make the United States Paralympic Team in 2028. The games are being held in Los Angeles, and she’d love to be competing for her nation in her own country.

To further her quest, she also competed in the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India. Though only 17 at the time, she chose to compete in the adult division, finishing sixth in the 200-meter dash and eighth in the 400-meter dash.

“We are all very proud of Kerragan. She set a goal and did everything she could to achieve it,” Martin girls track coach Sa’Donna Thornton said. “She had to really become a more disciplined athlete to make this happen.”

Thornton said Johnson trained and competed for almost a year, much of it on her own, in preparing for the World Para Athletics Championships. She qualified at the USA Outdoor Para National Championships in Eugene, Oregon, taking second in the 400 and third in the 200.

In fact, she accomplished two firsts in Oregon.

“I have always competed with able-bodied runners. Nationals was my first time competing with para,” she said.

Born in Fort Worth and raised in Arlington, her father ran cross-country in high school, and her mother played basketball. Today, however, she says, “My family isn’t necessarily a sports family, but they do enjoy watching it.”

They especially love watching their daughter succeed on the track, whether it’s for Martin High, for coach Nic Scott from Total Edge Track Club, or on the world stage.

At Martin, Johnson has excelled in hurdles. She qualified for the Class 6A Region I Meet in the 300 hurdles in both 2023 and 2025, winning an area championship this past season. She also advanced to the area meet in the 100 hurdles in 2023 and was part of the District 8-6A champion 4x100 relay team that qualified for regionals.

Thornton noted that the para competition does not offer hurdles, and the 2026 high school season will be Johnson’s last in the event unless she chooses to compete in college.

Track isn’t the only sport Johnson has participated in. When she was younger, she played many. But now her focus is on competing in Los Angeles and on getting faster each day.

She does want to compete in college, though she hasn’t fully committed to any particular school. She has decided what she wants to major in, however.

“Yes, I plan to compete in college. I plan on studying kinesiology so I can be a pediatric occupational therapist,” she said.

Kinesiology is the scientific study of movement, encompassing fields such as anatomy, physiology, and psychology to understand how movement affects health and performance.

Johnson hasn’t said whether she plans to compete in the 2027 World Para Athletics Championships, for which the host city has not been announced. Thornton said she believes Johnson will compete in whatever events para has to offer, however.

Also, reaching the 2028 Paralympics requires qualifying at a site to be determined in the months preceding the games - and that is getting the bulk of her attention.

“I plan to continue my training this upcoming year so I can be the most prepared for the trials and competition leading up to LA28,” she said.

Through it all, Thornton said Johnson continues to be an inspiration to others around her, particularly her teammates and the coach herself.

“She really showed me another side of herself,” Thornton said. “I’m just thankful to have been a part of the journey.”