After setting 5 school records this year, Sumner’s Thompson looks to finish season strong

It seems every time Jordan Thompson finishes a race for Sumner High, the same thing tends to happen for the Spartan sprinter.

Records fall.

Five records have been toppled by Thompson this season, as the junior sprinter has set new standards in the 100- (12.39 seconds) and 400-meter (56.81) as well as a part of both the 4x200 (1:47.8) and the 4x400 relay (3:56.32).

“It was my first race of the year when I broke the 100 (on April 14), and I only had a 12.89 last year,” said Thompson, who has committed to play soccer for Gonzaga University. “I look up to Emma Bakke as a runner, so to break her record was an amazing feeling.”

Bakke set the previous record in the 100 last year with a time 12.56.

Thompson also owns the record in the long jump — 17 feet, 5 1/2 inches — set back in April.

“That was one I really wanted and worked hard at,” she added.

At the 3A West Central-Southwest District meet at Sunset Chev Stadium over the weekend, Thompson qualified for state in four events: the 100 (fifth, 12.49), 200 (first, 25.5), 400 (first, 56.81) and as a member of Sumner’s 4x400 relay team (second, 3:56.32).

A soccer star who’s constantly running during games for Sumner’s and her club team, stamina has never been a problem.

Just as often as the records have fallen, opponents and spectators alike have been left in awe by the speed of Sumner’s star runner.

But it’s after the race when teammates are often left shaking their heads and wondering “Does she ever get tired?”

“I thought I wasn’t going to be able to finish the lap in the 400,” Thompson recalled about her first record-setting 400 race back on May 5 in a dual meet with Enumclaw. “After the race, I was kind of surprised I got the record on my first try, to be honest.”

After that race — just like all her races — Thompson was fine. No loss of breath, not even breaking a sweat over the long, hot day at Sunset Chev Stadium.

“I guess being a soccer player I’m used to running around,” Thompson joked.

This week is the final week for Thompson competing with Sumner track and field, and it’s been a record-setting season for the junior so far — one Thompson hopes to continue.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 10:20 AM with the headline "After setting 5 school records this year, Sumner’s Thompson looks to finish season strong."