USA Track & Field Indoor Championships Results
Albuquerque, NM – It was an exciting time for Academy of Art University track and field inside the Albuquerque Convention Center as the Urban Knights were represented by junior
Vashti Thomas in the USA Track & Field Indoor National Championships. Thomas was a qualifier in two of Sunday's events, the long jump and 60m hurdles, and her distance of 20-7 got her into the long jump finals where she flew even further (20-9) to finish 8th overall. In the semifinals of the 60mH, Thomas produced an impressive 8.21 which just missed qualifying her for the finals.
"It was really amazing and I was just excited to have the opportunity to go," Thomas said. "I was happy because for myself, I've always wanted to go to the finals in an event like this and I really wanted to represent our program well by going for it."
"There are many ways to look at this weekends results," head coach
Charles Ryan said. "Vashti represented herself and Academy of Art University very well, she was not in awe of the big names, and she came to compete. In the end, it was a great learning experience and awesome exposure for the program."
Competing in a field that included three-time World Champion Long Jumper Brittney Reese, Thomas started strong and would offer two of her three marks over 20-5 in the opening round. In 4th place after a first round jump of 6.27m (20-7), Thomas managed to hold on an qualify for the final round even after Chaunte Lowe came over from setting a high jump record in her only semifinal attempt.
"I was nervous because a lot of the other girls jumped far so I was just hoping I didn't embarass myself by jumping just an 18 or something," Thomas said. "I told myself I have to want this because I didn't want their big times to step over me. I knew I had to bring it."
The finals then saw Thomas surpass her distance in the semis when she hit a 6.32m (20-9) in the 5th round. The San Jose, CA native ended up finishing 8th overall out of 14 and was one of three athletes to complete all six of her jumps. She had previously qualified for the USA Indoor Championships with a 6.48m (21-3.25) mark, a distance which was #1 in the nation at the time, during the University of New Mexico Invitational in late January.
In the second heat of the 60m hurdles, Thomas persevered through two opponent false starts before posting the second-lowest time of her ART U career. She completed the race in a time of 8.21 which tied her with teammate
Briana Stewart for the second-best mark by an Urban Knight. Thomas would finish 9th overall out of 14.
"[Running through two false starts] was really hard," Thomas said. "I've never been put in that situation because I've been through one false start, but not two. That was new for me."
Academy of Art University assistant coach Lauren Smith also competed in the semis of the 60m hurdles and turned in a time of 8.53.
The USA Indoor Track & Field Championships will be broadcast on ESPN Sunday, February 26 at 7:30-9:30 PM EST (4:30-6:30 PM PST).
"I know things didn't end here the way she wanted, but I'm very proud of the work she has done so far," Coach Ryan said. "Things will only get better and she will see all these ladies again very soon."
With the indoor track and field season now officially concluded, ART U looks ahead to the outdoor portion of its 2012 campaign. The Urban Knights return to outdoor competition on Mar. 3 for the Kim Duyst Invitational hosted by Cal State Stanislaus in Turlock, CA.
