2013 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Results

Des Moines, IA – Day two for Academy of Art University at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships inside Drake Stadium saw the impressive versatility of one Vashti Thomas. Challenging the best track and field athletes in the country, Thomas qualified through to the finals of the 100m hurdles in addition to jumping in a star-studded long jump competition. Assistant coach Lauren Smith was also in action, turning in a season-best in the semi's of the 400m hurdles.

A busy day for Thomas started off with her incredible performance in the semifinals of the 100mH. Though wind-aided, the NCAA Division II National Champion in the 100mH produced a time of 12.63 (+2.7) and was right in the mix with Lolo Jones (Asics), Queen Harrison (Saucony), and Kristi Castlin (Nike). Thomas finished fourth in her heat, ensuring her spot in the finals scheduled for later in the same day.

Competing against the likes of Olympic gold medalist Brittney Reese and others less than an hour later, Thomas now turned to the long jump pit. In her first attempt, the NCAA DII National Champion delivered a 20-1.75 (6.14m) and found herself in sixth place after one round. Unfortunately Thomas, who would later run in the finals of the 100mH, passed on her final two attempts and did not qualify for the finals in the event as she finished 10th overall.

Thomas concluded her three-part afternoon in the finals of the 100mH. With just the top three finishers making it to Team USA and hurdlers like Nike's Brianna Rollins and Nia Ali as well as Queen Harrison all vying for those spots, Thomas found herself in a competition unlike any before. She ended up going a wind-legal 12.86 which put her seventh overall as Rollins set a new American record of 12.26 in that same race.

Urban Knights assistant coach Lauren Smith was also in action for the second consecutive day in the 400m hurdles. Having made the semifinals with a 59.15 mark in Friday's opening round, Smith dropped down to a 57.59 in her semi's heat which included Nike's Dalilah Muhammad and UCLA's Turquoise Thompson. Smith finished seventh her heat and 12th overall which meant she would not reach the finals despite her season-best time.

Although she will not be with Team USA in the IAAF World Championships, Thomas has officially qualified for the 2013 World University Games in both the 100mH and long jump set for July 6-17 in Kazan, Russia.