Vashti Thomas might have only competed for two years with Academy of Art but she sure made the time count as she became an 11-time NCAA DII All-American with the program between the indoor and outdoor seasons.
What made the All-American total even more impressive is that she only had one year to do it. Thomas helped lead her program into the ranks of NCAA Division II, which the school earned full-time membership status in July 2012. With only one year to compete at nationals, Thomas set the track ablaze.
Between the 2013 NCAA Division II Indoor & Outdoor Championships, Thomas scored 71¼ points to single-handedly lift the Academy of Art to national team titles in both of those seasons. Thomas amassed 35 points at the indoor meet – punctuated by victories in the 200 and long jump – and 36¼ more at the outdoor meet – stamped by victories in the 100H and long jump.
Her name still dots the NCAA DII record books. Thomas is the NCAA DII record holder in the 100H at 12.70, second all-time in the indoor/outdoor long jump as well as the outdoor 200, third in the indoor 200 and fourth in the 60H, among other marks.