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Rickie Thompson
Personal information
Born1 December 1959 (64 years, 348 days old)[1]
Home townAbilene, Texas
Education
Height198 cm (6 ft 6 in)[1]
Weight84 kg (185 lb)[1]
Sport
Country United States
SportSport of athletics
EventHigh jump
College team
ClubBayou City Track Club[4]
Achievements and titles
National finals
Personal best
  • HJ: 2.30m (1983)
Updated on 1 January 2024

Richie Thompson (born 1 December 1959), better known as Rickie Thompson or Ricky Thompson, is an American former high jumper. In 1983, he became the first ever national champion for the Houston Christian Huskies in any sport by winning the 1983 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the high jump.

Career

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As a prep, Thompson competed for Jefferson Middle School in the Abilene Independent School District.[5] He competed for Jones Futures Academy in high school before committing to the University of Texas at El Paso.[6]

Thompson initially competed for the UTEP Miners track and field team for two years before transferring to Houston Baptist University (now Houston Christian University) so that he could play basketball as well.[6] At the 1983 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Thompson defeated the defending champion Milt Ottey of UTEP to win Houston Christian's first ever individual title. Ottey was recovering from an injury, though both jumpers had difficulties with the sun shining in their eyes on the takeoff. Thompson won the event at 7 ft 51⁄4 in (2.26 m) – he attempted 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) three times but did not make that height.[2] Thompson also competed overseas post-season, winning the 1983 Palio Città della Quercia meet in Italy.[4] His performances earned himself a ranking of #7 in the U.S. that year, behind #1-ranked Tyke Peacock.[7]

Thompson competed at the 1984 United States Olympic trials, but he did not qualify for the trials finals and thus did not make the U.S. Olympic team.[8]

Personal life

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Thompson is from Abilene, Texas. He competed for the Bayou City Track Club.[4] In 1997, he was inducted into the Houston Christian Huskies Hall of Fame.[3]

Statistics

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Personal best progression

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High Jump progression
# Mark Pl. Competition Venue Date Ref.
1 2.23 m 1st place, gold medalist(s) Provo, UT 8 May 1981 [1]
2 2.24 m 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Houston, TX 7 May 1982 [1]
3 2.30 m 1st place, gold medalist(s) Houston, TX 27 May 1983 [9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Rickie Thompson at Tilastopaja (registration required)
  2. ^ a b "Ottey goes from elation to frustration to hope". El Paso Times. 4 June 1983. p. 43. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Ricky Thompson (1997) - Hall of Honor". Houston Christian University Athletics. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "American Wins High Jump". Petoskey News-Review. 8 September 1983. p. 17. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Jefferson wins 8th grade title". Abilene Reporter-News. 24 March 1975. p. 21. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b "TAC expecting top athletes to enter meet". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 5 June 1983. p. 50. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ "US Rankings - Men's High Jump" (PDF). Track and Field News. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Los Angeles - June 16-24" (PDF). Track and Field News. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #8255358". Tilastopaja.
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