EUGENE, Oregon – Northwestern State's Jasmyn Steels peered down the Hayward Field runway Thursday, knowing she needed a mark after fouling on her first two long jump attempts.

The senior has been in this position before, needing a mark to advance to the Southland Conference Outdoor Championship finals where she eventually won the title this past May.

Steels launched herself down the NCAA Outdoor Championships runway and did measure a jump, but her 19-8 on the third attempt was not enough to reach the nine-jumper finals.

Steels finished 22^nd in the field.

The College Station, Texas, native was seeking her third national podium after winning the 2019 NCAA Indoor national championship and taking silver in the 2019 NCAA Outdoors.

But the three-time All-American, which includes Steels' 2020 NCAA Indoors that was canceled because of the spread of COVID-19, couldn't add a fourth finals Thursday. She did earn honorable mention All-American status by reaching the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Both of Steels' fouls were toe fouls, and the foul on her second jump appeared to have wiped out a mark that might have landed her a finals spot.

"She had great warmups, and her first two jumps were very, very far," said NSU coach Mike Heimerman. "On the first jump, she fouled by three or four inches, so (NSU jumps coach TyRon Stewart) adjusted and moved her back in her approach.

"The second jump had the smallest of toe fouls. Either one of those two jumps would have gotten her to the finals, they were probably in the high 21 feet area. It's definitely not how anybody scripted it, but it happens sometimes."

Texas Tech's Ruth Usoro, one of five jumpers to record a 22-foot jump in their careers who also fouled her first two attempts, took the ninth and last finals spot with a 20-10.5.

Only one of the 24 jumpers landed a personal best on the blustery Oregon evening, and Texas' Tara Davis took the title with a 21-11.75.

"Jasmyn backed up more on the third jump, and she knew she still had to go for it to make the finals, but I think it was kind of a safety jump to get a mark," Heimerman said.

Steels finishes her NSU career as one of just four Demons to win an individual to win a national championship – joining the 1981 men's 4x100 relay (Mark Duper, Joe Delaney, Mario Johnson, Victor Oatis), Brian Brown (1990 high jump) and Trecey Rew (2011 discus).

She's also one of just three Demons to step on two NCAA podiums, joining Brown (indoor champion in 1990 and third in 1988 Indoor) and javelin thrower Steve Stockton (third in 1981 Outdoor and second in 1983 Outdoor).

Steels entered the field ranked 15^th with her season-best 21-5.25, but she was just one of three jumpers in this field to stand on two national podiums and one of five jumpers who have leapt 22 feet in their career.

Her school record 22-0.25 at the 2019 NCAA Outdoors in Austin, Texas, appeared to have vaulted her to a national title before Florida's Yanis David ripped off a jump five inches further.

Steels leaves her mark on NSU's outdoor record books with the top eight long jumps, the second-best triple jump and the fifth-best high jump in program history.

"She's had a phenomenal career being in the top five in all three jumps," Heimerman said. "Stephanie Sowell is the only four-time All-American on the women's side, and she did that all indoors.

"Jasmyn is in elite company, and everything she has done has been huge for us. She got two degrees in her five years, and she's a great person and human being. It's sad that this is how it ends, but it all happens for a reason, and there will be bigger and better things down the road for her."

Steels elected to return after COVID-19 to finish her masters degree, pursue another individual national title and chase the NSU women's first team conference title.

She tacked on a long jump conference title and a triple jump silver to put the Lady Demons in the running for a team title, ultimately finishing second.

Steels may be done competing for NSU, but the elite jumper's career isn't finished.

She'll return to Oregon later this month to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials.