JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –  In mid-flight, Monae Nichols knew her second attempt at the long jump was going to be a 20-footer.

"You catch the moment," Nichols said. "You're in the air longer, you're a little bit higher. It's a great feeling."

Want to know another great feeling? Nichols is heading to Texas after the sophomore from Lakeland qualified for the NCAA Outdoor National Championships by finishing eighth in the long jump Thursday at the NCAA East Preliminary at the University of North Florida.

Nichols leaped 20 feet, one inch – her second 20-foot jump of the season – to advance to the Nationals June 5-8 at the University of Texas.

A nagging hamstring injury has hindered Nichols since that previous 20-footer in March at the Embry-Riddle Spikes Classic. She finished third at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference meet after winning last year's outdoor and this year's indoor championship.

"It's been about overcoming adversity," said BCU Head Coach Donald Cooper. "Her mood was down, but the upperclassmen told her last night she was capable of a performance like this."

Nichols said she heeded the counsel of Jumps Coach Tyree Price and was more aggressive Thursday than she was at MEAC.

"I've been trying to work on that," Nichols said. "I pushed myself harder, ran faster, jumped higher."

This will be Nichols' second Nationals appearance. She was a part of the 4X100 relay team last year.

Also in the long jump, Gabrielle Collins finished 29th with a best of 19'4 1/4." 

Also on Thursday,  Sade McCreath-Tardiel automatically advanced to Friday's quarterfinal by finishing second to Florida State's Ka'Tia Seymour in the second heat. McCreath-Tardiel's time of 11.54 was the 20th fastest Thursday.

To get to the NCAAs, she'll have to finish in the top three of her heat or post one of the three fastest wild card times.

BCU's other 100 meter runner, Curtis Thomas, finished 41st with a 10.68. Jordan Williams finished 43rd in the 400 with a 48.05.

Senior Quamecha Morrison, who was the runner-up in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor National back in February, couldn't make a repeat performance after finishing 16th in the high jump.   
Morrison cleared 5'7" on her first try and remained alive by clearing 5'8 ¾ " on her third and final attempt, but couldn't get past 5'10 ¾".

She still has two more chances at a trip to Texas – the 100 hurdles that starts today and as part of the 4X100 relay team that runs Saturday. Williams will also attempt to qualify Friday in the 200.