IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Senior Jahisha Thomas was named the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Championships after winning two gold medals at the 2018 Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Bloomington, Indiana, the conference announced Tuesday.
The London native became the fourth person in Big Ten history to sweep the long jump and triple jump at a single Big Ten meet. Thomas won the program’s second long jump title on Saturday with a personal best and Big Ten meet record mark of 21-feet, 6-inches (6.55 meters).
Thomas returned to action on Sunday to claim Iowa’s first women’s triple jump title in school history with a best jump of 43-feet, 3.25-inches (13.11 meters). Both of Thomas’ best marks came on her first attempt of the competition.
Thomas is Iowa’s first Field Athlete of the Championships. Kineke Alexander was named the Track Athlete of the Championships in 2007 following the indoor meet.
The Iowa women recorded their highest finish and point total in program history with a third-place finish and 96 points. In addition, Iowa’s five individual Big Ten Championships (triple jump, long jump, discus, shot put, 200 meters) are the most in a single meet in school history.
The Iowa track and field team returns to action May 24-26 at the NCAA West Preliminary in Sacramento, California, where select Hawkeyes will compete to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.