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EUGENE, Ore. - Coming on strong as the season has wore on, sophomore David Aristil of the University of South Florida track and field team saved his best again for when it counted the most.

Competing at the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Oregon's legendary Hayward Field, Aristil qualified for the final of the 400 hurdles after placing eighth in the semifinals Thursday evening.

Aristil was the third to cross the finish line in the third and final heat of the evening, running a new school record of 50.13. The top two of each heat plus the next two best times advanced to the final. Aristil just edged out Wake Forest's Brent LaRue for the last spot, as LaRue posted a time of 50.20.

"I've got to give God the glory," said the deeply-religious Aristil. "If I didn't have faith in God, I wouldn't have faith in myself. It's an honor and privilege to be able to run in the final.

"I was happy that I had the opportunity to be here. I made the final for a reason, and I thank God for that."

The Boynton Beach, Fla., native also did something Olympic hurdlers Kemel Thompson and Damu Cherry were unable to do during their time at USF, as Aristil's top-8 finish guaranteed him All-America status. Advancing to the final, he will compete for the national championship at 5:05 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (8:05 EST).

Aristil becomes USF's fifth different All-American on the men's side, joining former Bulls Jimmy Baxter, Jon Dennis, Jan-Erik Salo and Mikese Morse. He is now the 14th different All-American USF track and field has had since the program began in 1991 and the first in any hurdle event.

As was the case at the NCAA East Prelim and the BIG EAST Championships, when he took home the conference title, Aristil had to make up ground late in the race.

"I noticed around 250 meters I was way behind," he said. "I knew I had to pick it up, and I was able to pick it up a little more than usual. At about 100 meters I noticed they were slowing down and I was getting closer. I saw my opportunity to catch up and make my way to the final."

"He got to the last turn and really started going," said head coach Warren Bye. "He finished strong as he always does. At this point in the season it's always about advancing and making it through to the end."

Running in the third heat, Aristil knew what he had to run in order to qualify for the final if he didn't finish in the top 2 of his heat.

"Before the race I calculated that if I ran a PR or came close to a PR I would make the final," said Aristil. "I knew I had to beat (50.61) and finish third or better in my heat. It was God's will to make it the way I did."

Aristil did even better, eclipsing his previous career best and school record of 50.42 set at the BIG EAST meet. Running in the same heat as LaRue, Aristil crossed the finish line just ahead of the Demon Deacon for that second at-large spot.

After having never run better than 51.13 prior to the BIG EAST 400-hurdle final, Aristil has now run 50.57 or better in four of his last five races. He became USF's second-ever 400-hurdle national qualifier along with Thompson after placing sixth at the NCAA East Prelim May 28.

His previous school record of 50.42 set at the BIG EAST Championships broke Thompson's school record of 50.50 that had stood since 1996.

Earlier in the day, sophomore Jared Thomas was the first of four Bulls to begin competition at nationals, as he placed 19th overall in the discus among the 24 competitors. Thomas came into the meet 24th overall following the NCAA Prelims May 27-29.

After fouling on his first two attempts, Thomas threw 168-2 on his third try during the first of two flights on the day. The top 9 individuals following the trials advanced to the final. Thomas was the only BIG EAST competitor in the men's discus to advance to nationals.

Thomas was the first male thrower for USF to qualify for nationals since the track and field program began in 1991. He owns the school record in the discus after a toss of 193-6 at the FSU Relays in late March.

Sophomore Nicole Rozario will run in the 3,000 steeplechase tomorrow at 9:15 p.m. EST, while sophomore Casey Wagner will throw the javelin Saturday.