Joanna Thompson takes in home stretch of collegiate track career

By: Lindsay Rossmiller

Posted: 7:10 PM, Jun 15, 2015

EUGENE, Ore. — When Joanna Thompson was 10 years old, she asked her mom, Debbie, "Do you think I'm ever going to run a mile without stopping?" while on a run through their Knoxville neighborhood.

Debbie Thompson likes to remind her daughter of that moment, now that Thompson has grown up to be a two-time cross country All-American and a two-time qualifier for the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for North Carolina State.

Thompson completed her collegiate career last Thursday at Hayward Field, home of legendary distance runners like Steve Prefontaine, one of her heroes, by finishing 19th in a time of 34 minutes 49.29 seconds at the NCAA championships in Eugene, Ore.

"When you get out here, it's such a tough field. You know it's top 24 in the nation," said Thompson. "Everyone is so good, so if you have a tough day, stuff happens."

Thompson wasn't able to get the outcome she wanted, but she still offered a smile after.

"It's just such a great experience," she said. "I'm so blessed to be out here at basically track and field's mecca, so I couldn't ask for more."

It almost didn't happen.

Two weeks ago in the NCAA East Preliminary Round, the Catholic High School graduate's foot caught the back of another runner's shoe, causing Thompson to fall in the 10,000.

Her first thought was, "Oh no! Not again." The same thing had happened at the cross country regionals.

Thompson said, "My second thought was, ‘I've done this before, so I know what I have to do now.' "

With 11 laps to go, she jumped back up and ran her way back into contention, finishing 10th and earning her second trip to the NCAA championships.

Last Thursday on a sunny evening at the starting line at Hayward Field, Thompson tried to grasp the significance of the NCAA championship race.

"I was just trying to take in the experience," said Thompson. "This was technically my last collegiate race."

Her parents, Joe and Debbie, were in section Q of the east grandstands.

"To see your kid do that ... I'm beyond words," said Debbie Thompson.

Joanna Thompson's parents have spent much of the last four years traveling to almost every meet. Debbie missed two, and Joe hasn't missed one. They flew into Portland Tuesday night before driving the two hours south to Eugene in advance of Thursday's race.

"I'm so incredibly lucky to have them," said Thompson. "They're my biggest support system. They've made it to almost all of my college meets, and so they're out there and my coaches. I got to run with five of my female teammates and three of my male teammates, and it's just been incredible."

Thompson is thankful for her career and the people she has been influenced by. That includes her high school coach, Sean O'Neil. "I wouldn't be here without him either," she said.

The zoology and creative writing major hopes to continue running at least semi-professionally as she works toward another goal, writing for National Geographic.

Thursday night as the west grandstand cast a shadow over the homestretch, Thompson didn't wonder about what's to come. She sprinted to cross the finish line that ended her college career and took a few deep breaths before sitting down on the track. While the final runners came in, she sat there for a few moments, sipping the water handed to her.

"I love running. I love this," said Thompson. "This sport is incredible and has given me so much. I'm incredibly fortunate to have that in my life."