U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Day 10 Results (Long Jump)

Eugene, OR -- Up against many of the world's elite long jumpers in the finals of the event, Academy of Art University's Vashti Thomas posted two of the three farthest outdoor distances in her ART U career Sunday, but finished 6th overall as her run to become the Urban Knights' first Olympian came to an end. Thomas posted a 22-0.75 (6.72m) mark in her first attempt and held 4th overall at that point, however, the trio of Brittney Reese (Nike), Chelsea Hayes (LA Tech), and Janay DeLoach (Nike) all eventually surpassed the 23-foot mark to represent Team USA on the 10th day of the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field.

"There is nothing I can say to properly explain how proud I am of this woman, in fact the word 'proud' is not big enough," head coach Charles Ryan said. "The bright lights of the U.S. Olympic trials usually shrink athletes into a shell of who they were before they arrived. Not Vashti Thomas. She exploded onto the world scene, she stood up and made people take notice of her, and ART U and she handled it all with the poise and grace that many pro's could only hope to have. I'm so happy that our athletic administration and President Stephens supported her in this process. Without that backing, none of this was possible."

In her opening attempt, Thomas, a junior who transferred from Texas A&M University to study Illustration at Academy of Art, came through with just her second career jump beyond the 22-foot mark. The 22-0.75 (6.72m) result marked the second time she had launched further than 22 feet in these U.S. Olympic Trials after the historic 22-10.5 which came in Friday's prelims. That mark was seventh-best in the world at the time.

The jump had Thomas in fourth overall after the first round, but following two fouls in her next two attempts, the San Jose native sat in 6th place. Four-time world champion Brittney Reese led the way at that point after her 23-2 (7.06m) in her second attempt.

Following the first three attempts by the 12 jumpers, the field was cut down to the top eight for the three rounds that remained. On her fourth attempt overall, Thomas completed a 21-0.5 (6.41m) which, although it was not more than her initial mark, still served as the third farthest outdoor distance the junior had achieved this season.

In a competition that saw over 20 total fouls by its participants, Thomas unfortunately did not post a legal mark in her final two attempts and remained the 6th place finisher overall. Certainly nothing to dismiss, the result bettered several top jumpers including Funmi Jimoh (Nike), Shameka Marshall (Shore A C), and Andrea Geubelle (Kansas), one of three collegians in the finals.

This long jump competition, which Coach Ryan called “the hardest Olympic team to make,” was the culmination of a great 2011-12 campaign for Thomas. During this past year, Thomas excelled from the very outset and set new program records in more than 12 different events across the Urban Knights' indoor and outdoor campaigns.

Having entered territory unknown to any Urban Knight with these U.S. Olympic Trials, Thomas has unquestionably brought tremendous recognition to Academy of Art University track and field this season.