David L. Thompson
David L. Thompson '76 track
David Thompson is considered one of the fastest athletes is ever don the green and white of the Vikings.
Thompson ran track for head coach Dave Burger, where he set numerous individual and team school records while earning four varsity letters from 1973-76. Thompson recorded the fastest-ever time in the 100-yard dash (:09.4), which he accomplished in 1975 and again in 1976. That time was the best in the state of Ohio in 1975. Thompson advance to the NCAA Track and Field Championships in both 1974 and 1975. He competed in the 100-yard dash in each championship.
Among other school marks held by Thompson include: 100 meters (: 10.3/ 1975); 400 meter relay (: 40.9/ 1975); 440 yard relay (: 41.2/ 1975); 800 meter relay (1:26.6/ 1975) and the 880yard relay (1:26.9/ 1975). His relay records are shared with ex-teammates Reggie Ballard, Pete Schwenke, and Rick Vicol. Thompson also shares the CSU 100 meters record with Reggie Ballard (1976).
" David's main reason for his success can be traced to the tremendous starts he got out of the block," noted Burger. " There are two races that stick out in my mind, as coach, throughout David's career. The first was at the Ohio relays when he defeated Michigan State's Marshal Dill in the 100-yard dash. Dill was one of the premier sprinters in the entire nation. The second race came when David ran the anchor leg for our 4 by 200 relay and he ran an incredible time of: 20.8 in the final leg at the Penn relays in Philadelphia."
Following his junior season at CSU, Thompson as named the Athletic Alumni Association's Most Outstanding performer in track. In addition to competing in the NCAA Championship as a junior, Thompson captured the 100 and 220-yard dashes in the 1975 Grater Cleveland Colleges Meet. He repeated his two Greater Cleveland Colleges. Meet titles as a senior in the spring of '76.
