Thomson Returning Home with Big Goals in Mind

On Saturday, Kentucky cross country standout Jacob Thomson will return to a familiar setting, running in his hometown of Louisville at the 16th annual Greater Louisville Classic. 

Thomson knows the course at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park very well. In fact, he once set the course record for a high school runner.

Thomson, a senior, is currently competing in his last season with the Kentucky’s men’s cross country team. But it hasn’t always been simple for Thomson and his teammates. The Kentucky cross country team adjusted to a coaching change mid-summer, with assistant coach Hakon Devries taking over, a move that brought about a change in Thomson’s mindset.

“I think it’s been overall a really good change,” said Thomson. “My fitness is well beyond what it was at this point last year. I think the rest of the guys all share that same feeling. We’re really happy with the coaching, it’s changed the way things have been going so far.” 

Thomson and the Wildcats are determined to leave a lasting impact at Saturday’s meet.  As it turns out, all nine of Kentucky’s distance guys are from the Commonwealth and are familiar with E.P. “Tom” Sawyer course. 

“We’ve all raced there growing up so that course kind of symbolizes a lot to us,” Thomson said of the course, which will host the NCAA Championships in November. “I think everybody’s really excited to get out there and race at the Greater Louisville and hopefully be back there again in November.” 

While listening to his favorite artists, such as Drake, The Weeknd and Eminem lifts his spirits prior to a race, Thomson’s true way to stay motivated throughout such prolonged races is simply his mindset. 

“I’m a very competitive person at heart,” said Thomson. “I love to win. I probably hate to lose more than I love to win. So that’s the thing that’s constantly on my mind, that’s what keeps me driven every day and that’s what makes the sport fun.”

The 2017 season is off to an impressive start for Thomson and the team. Saturday’s meet includes a step up in competition, which will give the team a chance to make a big impression on a national level. After placing second in the Bluegrass Invitational earlier in September, Thomson and the Wildcats hope that this weekend’s meet will establish the foundation for the remainder of the season.

“We want to go out and make a statement again. I know the team does and I do individually as well,” Thomson said about Saturday’s meet. “We’ll go out there and race with the best guys. There will be a lot of ranked teams there so it’s another good opportunity to make a big statement on a national level.” 

The Louisville Classic begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. For Thomson and his teammates, it’s a chance to take advantage of course familiarity and make a statement early in the season.