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Texas A&M's Ashika Charan established a career best of 44 feet, 4 inches (13.51 meters) to place fifth in the U.S. Championships on Thursday at Drake Stadium. Charan bettered her previous best of 43-11.25 on a pair of jumps.

The mark of 44-4 also becomes the American collegiate leader for the 2010 season. Charan is the No. 3 performer on the Aggie all-time list with the No. 5 performance. Only Yasmine Regis and Detrich Clariett have marks better than Charan at Texas A&M.

She stated after her performance to a group of reporters in the mixed zone, “There were a good class of women competing out there, jumpers I’ve looked up to during my collegiate career. So being out there and competing against them really pumped me to keep going to try to stay up with them.”

Erica McClain won the competition with a windy mark of 46-6.25 (14.18) while Shakeema Welsch placed second at 46-2 (14.07). Toni Smith finished third with a 44-11 (13.69) while Amanda Smock was fourth at 44-7.5 (13.60).

This seaso...

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