Randy broke the school record in the 100 meter dash….the first time he ran it!
He placed in the Top 3 in the Drake Relays 100 meter final four times, winning it twice.
He was a 7 time state champion; winning four 100 meter titles, two gold medals in the 200 and one in the 400. In 1993 he was Corwith-Wesley-Luverne’s only state qualifier placing them second as a team after winning the 100-200-400 and placing 2nd in the long jump. Randy did all of this without having a track at his high school to train nor compete on.
After an outstanding high school career at CWL, Randy went on to an equally impressive Division 1 collegiate career at Iowa State. Steve Lynn was the head coach at ISU at the time, and was not too impressed with Randy’s ability the first time he saw him compete in high school. Steve said changing his mind was one of the best decisions he ever made!
During his All American career at ISU Randy ran on 4×100 teams that won Big 8 and Drake Relays titles, set Big 8 and school records with a time of 39.23. He was a 14 time Big 8/Big 12 medalist, ranking him in the top 10 at ISU in the 60 and 200 indoors and the 100 and 200 outdoors, with PR’s of 10.39 and 20.78, and is on school record 4×100 and 4×200 relays teams.
Randy was not only a great track athlete but a fine person and leader as well. That is well documented with the off the track accolades he has to his credit. While in high school Randy was awarded the Bernie Saggau Award which honors a student who best exemplifies a patriotic spirit strong religious and moral convictions, living and professing qualities of honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship; believing that both games and life should be conducted by the rules. While at ISU, along with being selected as a track team captain, he was a 3 time member of Successful Farming Magazine All American Farm team, being named captain in 1997. In 1998 he was the recipient of the Budget Rental Car Sportsmanship award in recognition of his integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.
Coach Lynn said that he cannot talk about Randy Thompson without mentioning his family. They were at most every meet, home and away, and were always full of enthusiasm. Randy is Daryl and Ruby Thompson’s youngest of six children.