SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Despite clearing her highest mark of the outdoor season, Vanderbilt sophomore Josie Hahn narrowly missed qualifying for the high jump finals at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Thursday.

Hahn cleared 5’8.5”, her best jump of the outdoor season, but failed on three tries at 5’10.5”. To qualify for the finals, Hahn needed to clear the height, which would have resulted in a new Vanderbilt record.

The clearance did allow Hahn to accomplish her best outdoor jump of the year. Her previous best was a 5’8” clearance to win the Vanderbilt Invitational meet in April. Hahn holds both the Vanderbilt indoor and outdoor high jump record.

Hahn, a native of Clinton, Tenn., will return to the Sacramento State University track Friday to compete in her specialty, the heptatlon, which consists of the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin toss and 800-meter run. Four of the heptathlon events will be contested Friday.

The high jump performance indicates Hahn is in top form as her bids for a top eight finish at the nationals. Hahn enters the competition off a 5,327-point, second place finish at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships three weeks ago. The SEC performance was a personal best for Hahn.

Hahn, who has the nation’s 13 best score as the heptathlon approaches, likely needs another personal best to earn points. The Vanderbilt heptathlon record is 5,399 points by Julie Walk in 1999.

Hahn is the first Vanderbilt athlete since 400-meter hurdler Amanda Helberg in 2000 to compete at the NCAAs.