U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Day Eight Results (Long Jump)

Eugene, OR -- Academy of Art University women's track & field star Vashti Thomas made her presence known Friday at the U.S. Olympic Trials, achieving the seventh farthest distance in the world in the long jump.

"When I looked at the mark, it was literally like a cartoon moment and I could see my head explode like, 'Poof!'" Thomas said. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh!' and I was so happy I nearly started crying. Honestly, I'm really excited, but the most exciting part is that I am representing an art school. It just adds so much more to it because people are like, 'Where this girl from?'"
  Thomas, a junior for the Urban Knights who transferred from Texas A&M University and hails from San Jose, posted an incredible lifetime best of 22-10.5 (6.97m) in the preliminary round. In a competition which featured 24 jumpers from around the country, Thomas finished second overall in front of four-time world champion Brittney Reese. This impressive feat qualified Thomas, an Illustration major at ART U, for Sunday's finals came after she had patiently waited through seven days of action at Hayward Field.

"To be honest, I was really upset after the first jump because I had scratched by half an inch," Thomas said. "I was about to get even more mad, but I was super-focused and just had to go."

"First and foremost, what Vashti did today was incredible," head coach Charles Ryan said. "To come in as the #23 ranked jumper out of 24 women and to put up that kind of performance, I don't have any words that can do that justice. I am as proud of her as I could possibly be. It was an incredible moment."

In her second and final attempt, Thomas leapt into history with the 22-10.5 distance which was not only an Academy of Art record, but also surpassed her previous top marks (21-3.25 indoor, 20-7.75 outdoor) by more than a complete foot. The mark ranks seventh in the world based on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) top lists, is the top all-time mark for NCAA Division II, and is #2 all-time for all divisions.

"From a historical perspective, she is #7 in world, #2 tied with Carol Lewis, and only Jackie Joyner-Kersee has jumped further than her as a collegiate," Coach Ryan said. "When you see it from that perspective, it is pretty impressive. If she wants to make team she will have to go out and do it again. And she can. These are the kinds of stories that make the US Olympic Trials what it is. She just needs to go out there, live in moment, and do what she loves to do."

The jump itself came 10 minutes after legendary track athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee had been introduced and took place on a track which had been considerably wet after the previous rainy weather. The stretch would continue as literally the first drops began to fall as Thomas achieved her memorable mark.

"I was hoping it would rain because it reminded me a lot of the kind of rain in San Francisco," Thomas said. "Also I had noticed that many of the jumpers times were not as good, but I'm used to it so I was like, 'Bring it on!'"

Among the onlookers was Thomas' father, Gerald Thomas, who had made the trip to Eugene.

"My dad was hearing the people behind him and, after I jumped, he said they started asking, 'Where did she come from?'" Thomas said. "It was like the element of surprise. People didn't know who I was and now it is like I'm suddenly in everybody's face. The feeling is amazing. And to see my dad there made me really do better. He doesn't really get to see me compete very often."

Humble amid the craziness of her accomplishment, Thomas was also extremely appreciative of her head coach.

"It really helped to have Chuck around because I tend to get too excited," Thomas said. "He really helps calm me down on the sidelines."

The U.S. Olympic Trials, the country's most prestigious pre-Olympic event, welcomes more than 1,000 athletes as they compete for the right to represent Team USA at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The top three finishers in the long jump, who have achieved the Olympic qualifying standard, will be asked to complete Olympic Games team processing.

"I'm really excited to jump with people like [Brittney Reese]," Thomas said. "I want to go pro so I have to get used to it. Like any meet, the best bring out best in you. When I saw them walk off track, I completed my jump and then walked off the track just like them. My next step is competing with those athletes anyway so it was like a peak into the future."

"The reality is that this [long jump team] is the hardest Olympic team to make and this unfortunately means absolutely nothing going into Sunday," Coach Ryan said. "She will be #2 going in and will have to do it again to make the USA Team. That's what makes this competition and being on that team unlike anything else."

Thomas will return to Hayward Field on Sunday, July 1 to compete in the finals of the long jump where she will face off against the 11 other competitors who finished at the top on Friday. Check out the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials homepage for the latest schedule information and results.

"The sky's the limit for Vashti and she proved today that she can do anything she wants," Coach Ryan said. "I am humbled to be a small part of what she accomplished today."