Academy of Art’s Thomas and Carter Claim High Point Awards for DII Championships

NEW ORLEANS – Vashti Thomas and Johnny Carter of the Academy of Art have been named the High Point Athletes of the Meet for their performances at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Tuesday.

The High Point Athlete of the Meet award is given to one student-athlete of each gender who compiles the highest point total at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Thomas, a senior from San Jose, Calif., scored 35 points in five individual events to lead Academy of Art to its first DII indoor team championship with 59 team points. She claimed individual titles in the long jump (20-3¾/6.19m) and at 200 meters in 23.428 – just.002 ahead of runner-up Danielle Williams of Johnson C. Smith. She also finished runner-up in the 60 hurdles finals (8.16), fourth in the triple jump (41-½/12.51m) and seventh at 60 meters (7.54).

Carter, a freshman from Bakersfield, Calif., won both the long jump (25-1¾/7.66m) and triple jump (52-1¾/15.87m) at his first NCAA DII Indoor Championships, both of which were the best DII marks for 2013. He scored all 20 of Academy of Art’s 20 points at the meet, single-handedly good for an 11th-place team finish out of 49.