Senior Vashti Thomas turned in numerous world-class performances this past week, helping Academy of Art University capture the 2013 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championship. She brought home six All-American honors in total along with the program's second championship trophy of what was a "dream season" according to head coach Charles Ryan.
Thomas owned the 100m hurdles on Friday and Saturday. In the prelims, she burst to a 12.74 to lead all competitors then, alongside three of her teammates in Saturday's finals, Thomas went 12.70 to set a new championship and facility record. The 200m dash saw another breakout effort from the San Jose, CA native. After posting the #2 time in NCAA Division II Championship history in the prelims (22.81), Thomas dropped down to a 22.75 in the finals and placed second behind only Danielle Williams of Johnson C. Smith.
Friday's long jump featured Thomas' first title of the meet as she broke another NCAA DII Championship record and facility record with her third attempt at 21-2.75 (6.47m). The record she broke had stood for the past 29 years. On Saturday, the one triple jump Thomas attempted was good enough to make her an All-American as well as she hit a 43-3.5 (12.89m) in the prelims on a grueling Friday in which she competed in four different events with some overlapping at the same time.
In addition to her individual success, Thomas contributed legs in each of the Urban Knights' All-American 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams which finished second and eighth respectively in the finals.
