MVHS Alum Breaks 4 Minute Mile

By MAGGIE MCMURRAY

Moapa Valley Progress

A Moapa Valley High School alumnus and track star recently became the first athlete ever from the state of Nevada to run a mile in under four minutes.

Josh Thompson, who graduated from MVHS in 2011, was a star on the school’s track and cross country teams during his high school years, leading the men’s cross country team to two state titles, and winning two state titles in the 3200 meters for the track team. He was also a member of the state championship basketball team.

Thompson recently proved that he has what it takes to lead in the university arena as well. A sophomore at Oklahoma State University (OSU), Thompson recently ran the mile in 3:58.33 at the University of Washington’s Husky Classic, cracking the 4-minute barrier. Thompson finished 4th out of 76 runners in a competitive final at that meet.

The race was won by David Elliot of Boise State, who had a time of 3:57:38. Thompson’s previous record in that event was 4:10. His time from the preceding meet was 4:15, meaning he dropped a total of 17 seconds off his time from one meet to the next, and 12 seconds off his personal record (PR).
“Josh just had a monster PR coming from his 4:10 a few weeks ago to today,” said Thompson’s coach, Dave Smith, in a statement to the OSU sports website, okstate.com. “Last time out he ran a 4:15, so he dropped 17 seconds in two weeks, which is kind of unheard of.”

Oklahoma State, a Big 12 Conference school, recruited Thompson from Central Arizona College with the idea of having him as a middle distance runner. Thompson also runs the 1200 meter leg of the team’s distance medley relay, which is currently on track to compete at nationals.
“A couple weeks ago I ran my 1200 in 2:56 and the coach pointed out that if I could just run one more 400 in under 61 seconds, I would break a 4-minute mile; so I did!” Thompson said in an interview with the Progress.

Thompson started his college career at Central Arizona because, of all the schools that recruited him out of high school, they were the one willing to hold his scholarship and place on the team while he served a two year mission for the LDS church in Nicaragua. When he returned, scouts from Oklahoma State couldn’t believe how fast his times were after taking two years off with no running or training. So they recruited him when he was done at Central Arizona.
Thompson toured several other schools but decided that the best fit for him was, in fact, Oklahoma State. He moved to continue his career with them last fall.

Although his main position is on the track team, after watching him run, coaches agreed to also let him run on OSU’s cross country team. Last fall he was named “Big 12 Cross Country Newcomer of the Year” for his 10th place overall placing in the conference, his 13th place overall at regionals, and his performance at nationals during his first season.
Thompson has no doubt that he can continue to improve. He plans to keep training how he’s been training and stay focused.
“I love running,” he said. “I like the personal strength you get from it. Running takes discipline, self control, commitment, and determination. It builds quality and character in you.”
Thompson admits that his training and competition schedule make it hard to balance his schoolwork.

He is planning to major in biology with the idea of getting into physician’s assistant school.
“I love biology,” he said. “It’s so interesting. I love learning about the human body and how it works.”
Thompson has several races still coming up with not much time for rest between them. He runs next at Notre Dame and after that in Iowa at the Big 12 conference meet. He is hoping to qualify for nationals in his distance medley relay. Thompson’s mile time makes him the fastest this year in the Big 12 Conference and 5th overall in OSU history.

Thompson’s parents, Brent and Erinn Thompson of Logandale, are understandably proud of him.
“I didn’t know how good he would become, but I knew he had it in him,” said Erinn. “How far he’ll go is on him, but I know he’ll work his hardest and take advantage of every opportunity.”
She said that running has been great for Josh. It has kept him healthy, paid for his college, and he’s been able to meet a lot of people.
“He is very dedicated and has the right frame of mind,” she said. “He sets goals and works towards them. He knows where he wants to go and I’m sure he will get there.”
Then she laughingly admits, “When it comes to working out, though, I think he must have gotten his single-mindedness and dedication from his dad.”