Academy of Art University Athletics

If you thought her Cherry & Silver Invitational performances were special, junior Vashti Thomas delivered something even more amazing this past weekend for ART U track & field at the New Mexico Invitational. Back in Albuquerque, NM for the second consecutive weekend, Thomas completed an unbelievable 21-3.25 (6.48m) long jump to at the time assume the #1 mark in all NCAA divisions, #2 in the United States only behind World Champion Brittney Reese, and #8 in the entire world. The junior then followed that performance with a 41-6.5 (12.66m) on Day Two to smash the previous Academy of Art University indoor record.

“Honestly, it's hard to describe, but what Vashti did further validates her decision to attend school here,” head coach Charles Ryan said. “She has now jumped the furthest ever in her life. You can really see that she is doing well in school and that she's a natural leader on this team. If anyone in the country was in doubt about how Vashti is doing in this program, today just confirms how far back she is.”