Christian Thompson

Height:
5-10
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Candor, N.Y.
High School:
Candor

PERSONAL BESTS

INDOOR

Mile: 4:10.99 (2008)

3,000-Meters: 8:09.29 (2011)

5,000-Meters: 14:08.05 (2011)

OUTDOOR

1,500-Meters: 3:53.45 (2012)
5,000-Meters: 13:59.23 (2012)
10,000-Meters: 29:13.59 (2012)
Steeplechase: 8:49.38 (2009)

BIG 12 SCORING
2009 (O) Steeplechase, 5th (9:07.68)
2010 (O) Steeplechase, 7th (9:08.18)

PAC-12 SCORING
2012 10,000-Meters, 3rd (29:46.76)

NCAA MIDWEST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP SCORING
2009 (O) Steeplechase, 9th (9:07.31)

HONORS
Two-time All-Big 12 Performer
Academic All-Big 12 Second Team

2012: Indoor: Did not compete. No eligibility.

Outdoor: Redshirt. Thompson raced the 1,500, 5k and 10k runs during his final season. He ran his first career 10k at the Stanford Invite (4/6) and finished fourth in his section with a PR of 29:13.59. The time made him the 12^th best CU performer in the event. At the Azusa Pacific Bryan Clay Invite (4/20), he finished the 1,500 in 3:53.45, another PR. Thompson went on to race his first 5k at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invite (4/29) and won the third section with a time of 13:59.23. He went back to the 10k for the remainder of the year. Thompson placed third at the Pac-12 Championships (29:46.76) and was 23^rd at the NCAA West Prelims (31:00.93).

2011: Indoor: Thompson competed in the mile, 3k and 5k for the Buffs during his final indoor season and picked up personal bests in the 3k and 5k runs in the process. Thompson raced to a time of 8:09.29 in the 3k at the UW Invite (1/29), placing eighth in the process. Two weeks later at the Husky Classic (2/12) he recorded a time of 14:08.05. Thompson raced both events at the final Big 12 Championship. He was 10^th in the 5k (14:15.06) and 13^th in the 3k (8:21.24).

Outdoor: Redshirt. Did not compete.

2010: Indoor: Thompson recorded a pair of then-personal records in the 3k and 5k, both in Seattle, Wash. Thompson finished the 3k at the UW Invite (1/30) in 8:11.80 and was 20^th overall. Two weeks later, at the Husky Classic, he ran the 5k in 14:15.67. Thompson raced both events at the conference championship and was 12^th in the 5k (14:33.25) and 16^th in the 3k (8:22.96).

Outdoor: Thompson focused on the steeplechase, racing his season best at the Mt. SAC Relays (4/16). He finished 14^th in the invitational section after clocking a time of 9:03.04. Thompson recorded his second all-conference honor with a seventh-place finish in the steeplechase (9:08.18). Thompson advanced to the NCAA West Preliminary in the steeplechase, but did not advance to the semis after placing 32^nd (9:09.27).

2009: Indoor: Thompson competed in a pair of 3,000-meter runs in the indoor campaign. He ran a season best in the 3k with a performance of 8:14.55 at the Husky Classic (2/14). Thompson missed scoring at the Big 12 meet when he took 15^th (8:18.60).

Outdoor: During the outdoor season he ran a couple of 1,500's but mainly focused on the steeplechase. Thompson's best 1,500 of the season came at the Oregon Relays (4/24). He ran a time of 3:58.46 and took second in the 'B' second. Thompson's best time in the steeplechase was at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invite. He earned a time of 8:49.39, which was a regional qualifying time. Thompson scored for the Buffs at the Big 12 meet in the steeplechase with a fifth-place finish and a time of 9:07.68. Two weeks later he took ninth at regionals but advanced to nationals on his PR time. Thompson finished 20^th overall at NCAA's in the prelims.

2008: Indoor: Thompson competed in the mile and 3,000-meter runs during the indoor season. He ran the 3k at the conference meet and placed 22^nd with a time of 8:30.44. Thompson raced to his season best in the 3k of 8:17.42 at the Husky Invite and placed 28^th overall. His PR in the mile (4:10.99) came at the Seattle Last Chance meet where he finished 10^th.

Outdoor: Thompson focused on the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the outdoor season and he ran a then-PR of 9:06.68 at the Cardinal Invite (5/4), which qualified him for regionals. He just missed out earning his first all-conference honor as he took 10^th in the event (9:42.67). At regionals, he finished 13^th with a mark of 9:12.88. Impressively he finished the last half of the race with only one shoe.

CROSS COUNTRY: (2011) Thompson had a great final season on the cross country course for CU, finishing either third or fourth for the Buffs' team score. He started off by placing third at the Rocky Mountain Shootout. The following meet, pre-nationals, he was 21^st overall. Thompson helped the Buffs claim the inaugural Pac-12 Championship title; placing 13^th overall individually. He was 12^th at regionals and finished his career at NCAAs with a 49^th-place finish. Thompson was named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team and all-region honors for the season. (2010) Thompson raced in all five varsity meets for the Buffs. He placed fourth overall at the Rocky Mountain Shootout and followed that performance up with a 30^th-place finish at pre-nats. Thompson was all-conference again with a seventh-place finish (CU's No. 3) and earned all-region recognition after placing 19^th at the NCAA Mountain Region Championship. He finished the season with a 90^th-place finish at nationals. (2009) The season proved to be a breakout year for Thompson as he led the Buffs in a pair of races and was the second or third Buff twice. He started the year by taking fifth at the Rocky Mountain Shootout and was the fourth Buff harrier to cross the finish. Thompson's first time leading the Buffs came at pre-nats when he finished 14^th and led the Buffs to a second-place team finish. He was ninth overall at the Big 12 Championship (second on the team) and was 10^th at the regional meet (third Buff) to earn his first all-region and all-conference honors. Thompson led the Buffs at nationals with a 44^th-place finish and just missed his first All-American honor. (2008) Thompson got out to a good start as he finished eighth overall (CU's No. 7) at the Iowa State Invite. A few weeks later at the Rocky Mountain Shootout he was sixth overall and the No. 3 harrier for CU. After the return of some of Thompson's teammates, he moved down to the No. 5 runner at the pre-national meet (finishing 79^th). Thompson earned a spot on the postseason roster and placed 29^th at Big 12s, 34^th at regionals and 208^th at nationals. (2007) Did not compete.

HIGH SCHOOL: Thompson was 11th at the Northeast Foot Locker Championships in 2006. He won three Class D New York State Public High School Association Cross Country Titles. Thompson was a four-time Interscholastic Athletic Conference selection. As a senior, he was an all-state selection and a second team member as a junior. He finished third in the 2007 USATF Junior Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Thompson was a two-time state champion in the steeplechase.

HIGH SCHOOL BESTS: 1,600-meters: 4:22.4; 3,200-meters: 9:24.75; steeplechase: 9:17.20.

ACADEMICS: Thompson is majoring in international affairs and Spanish. He was a member of the honor roll in high school. Thompson is a member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll and was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team in 2009 and 10.

PERSONAL: Christian Charles Thompson was born on July 2, 1988, in Johnson City, N.Y. His parents are Robert and Valerie Thompson of Candor, N.Y. He has one younger brother, Patrick, who plays soccer at Hartwick College. Thompson lists his hobbies as snowshoeing, cross country skiing and traveling.