Shanieka Thomas of San Diego State hop, skipped and jumped 46 feet and 4.75 inches (14.14m) — only an inch off her personal best — to win her first NCAA championship in the triple jump at Historic Hayward Field after placing second the previous year.

Coming into the finals, Andrea Geubelle of Kansas was only an inch behind her, but Thomas immediately increased the gap to more than a foot and a half.

“I’m never intimidated, I just know what I need to do and I just try to stick to the plan,” Thomas said.

The San Diego State junior not only had the longest jump of the day, she also had the second, third and fourth as well. Which means four of her five legal jumps could have won it for Thomas. But it was her 46 foot leap that would be the winning mark, followed by Geubelle’s mark of 44 feet and 8.75 inches, earning her second place. Freshman LaQue Moen-Davis of Texas A&M jumped 44 feet and 8 inches to place third.

Thomas plans to continue improving and will compete at the world championship trials for her home country of Jamaica and the world university games.