PITTSBURG, KANSAS -- Cal State LA's Jonon Young had the perfect ending to a unbelievable indoor track and field season.

Young, who joined Cal State LA's women's track and field program in January, soared to a personal best of 43-3.25 in the triple jump and won the NCAA Division II national championship on Saturday at Pittsburg State. Young broke her own school record - that she set in her Cal State LA debut in February - by an incredible three feet and was a stunning championship winner.

She entered the championships with the 15th-best qualifying mark of 40-3.25, but went well past that mark in four consecutive attempts. The final one pushed her past Auna Childress of Pittsburg State and into the championship spot. After fouling on her first attempt, she jumped 41-8.50, 42-3.50, 41-6.50 and then 43-3.25 to win the national title.

Childress was second with a mark of 43-0.50 and Taylor Nelloms of Pittsburg State was third with a mark of 41-9.25.

"Success is not final; failure is not fatal," Young said. "It is the courage to continue that counts."
 
"I'm so proud of Jo Jo," Cal State LA head coach Tina Fernandes said. "She has worked amazingly with Coach Sean Fernandes. Although they are both getting to know each other, the trust and movement have been together. 
 
We are so excited to see her continued development. She is already doing some amazing things, but most importantly she is such a humble person. We are so happy and proud of her to see her be able to have a great National Championship meet."

The championship is the 17th for Cal State LA in women's indoor track and field and the first since Omonike Kotey in 2008. Ironically, Kotey's championship was in the triple jump and was also claimed with a program record. Kotey's record of 40-1.25 had stood until Young joined Cal State LA this year.

It's also the 50th individual national title in women's track - both indoor and outdoor - and including AIAW, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I. The last national championship in women's track was an outdoor title in the discus won by Calista Lyon in 2012.

Thanks to Young's 18 points, Cal State LA finished 11th as a team.

Young will now set her attention to outdoor track and field with the Golden Eagles hosting the Cal State LA Invitational next Friday and Saturday.  The two-day meet will open with throws at Cerritos College on Friday and the remaining events will be held at Cal State LA on Saturday.