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March 29, 2024 8:39 am
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Thompson Still In The Game For 2021 Olympics

By GANNON HANEVOLD

The Progress

Josh Thompson/PHOTO COURTESY OF CORTNEY WHITE

While the 2020 Summer Olympics have now been postponed, Moapa Valley native Josh Thompson is still determined to make his hometown proud in 2021.

Thompson, a 2011 MVHS graduate, is a mid-distance runner who has risen the ranks over the last few years as a force primarily in the 1500 meter race.

In order to qualify for the Olympic games, Thompson said runners must first reach the standard qualifying time.

They usually must also finish in the top three at the United States Olympic Track and Field Trials, however due to some recent rule changes, there is flexibility surrounding that finish depending on the runner’s world ranking and personal best time.

At last year’s 2019 USA Championships, Josh Thompson finished third in the 1500 meter run, but hadn’t yet reached the world standard qualifying time.

In February 2020, however, he hit that benchmark, by finishing the indoor 1500 meter run with a time of 3:34.77 at a Boston invitational.

The 2020 Trials were the last step between Josh Thompson and running at the Olympic games.
They were originally scheduled for late June, but due to the coronavirus pandemic moving the Tokyo Olympics back a year, they’re now slated for June 2021.

Prior to the postponement, the stars were certainly aligning for Moapa Valley to see one of its own competing in the red white and blue at the Summer Olympics.
“That’s basically the ultimate goal for every runner, to qualify for the Olympics and hopefully medal,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s track & field success started in high school, where he set various track and field individual and relay records.
Those accolades landed him an opportunity to run at Central Arizona College, a junior college in Coolidge, Arizona.

Thompson was a collegiate breakout star after transferring from Central Arizona to the Division I Oklahoma State University, one of the nation’s best running programs during his time there.
While at Oklahoma State, Josh Thompson became the first Nevada native to ever run a mile in under four minutes.

Some athletes may be frustrated by the Olympics being moved to 2021, but Thompson thinks in his case it may actually serve as an advantage.
“My approach is always different from others,” he said. “I was kind of late to the running world. This gives me a year to get even stronger. In my case, that’s really a benefit because I am a bit behind some of these other runners.”

His high school times were impressive enough to open opportunities, but Thompson said his lack of mileage early in his career is something he’s had to make up for.
“In high school, I had a young body and hadn’t physically matured,” he said, “Once I got to college, I was able to learn more and more about training efficiently.”

“The junior college coaches did a great job of preparing me to go to the next level without doing too much where I could get injured,” Thompson continued. “At Oklahoma State, they really pushed me, and I started implementing cross-training.”

Thompson and other runners are currently training seven days a week in Park City, Utah, and have been abiding by the guidelines in place due to the pandemic.

He was sure to thank his coach, Jerry Schumacher, for his role in preparing Josh for the Olympic games around the corner.
“I have a great coach, and he does a great job of preparing his athletes,” Thompson said. “He always understands what we need and when.”

Thompson’s goal is to don the stars and stripes in 2021. But he also said that he certainly feels pride for first coming from the blue and gold.

“I always feel like I have something to prove,” he said. “Being from a small town like Moapa Valley, I just want to make the town proud. I’m not afraid to admit that I’m from Moapa Valley. I definitely carry a sense of pride with me.”

Despite an unprecedented and unorthodox Olympic schedule, Thompson has maintained a relentlessly positive attitude.

He continues to set his sights on qualifying for the Olympic games next summer, and perhaps even bring a medal home for his country.
“I’ve learned that you can’t get upset with things you can’t control,” Thompson said, “So I just want to get focused and get stronger for next year.”

Moapa Valley will be keeping a close eye on the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in 2021, hoping to see one of their own book a ticket to Tokyo.

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