Greenwave grad earns weekly college honor

Tristen Thomson hasn’t lost his step after a late injury ended his Greenwave career last spring.

The 2016 Fallon grad suffered an injury that ended his run in the regional track and field meet in May. Thomson medaled in the cross country state meet in the fall and broke the school record in the 800.

“It definitely was a long process to get healthy again,” Thomson said. “The healing process required a lot of tedious cross training workouts that helped me rebuild my strength and endurance.”

But now running for Concordia University, a Division II school in Irvine, Calif., Thomson’s back to top form.

He was named the PacWest Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Week after finishing as the top freshman in the Lancer Invitational last week. His time of 19 minutes, 21 seconds in the 6K race was good enough for eighth place out of eight Division II teams and more than 80 runners in his first race of the season. He averaged 5:11 per mile.

“Compared to high school, this race was much more strategic and I felt like I had a lot to prove,” Thomson said. “Not being able to compete at the state track meet my senior track season was detrimental, yet humbling.”

Thomson said the hard work in training while competing for the Greenwave helped him prepare for his collegiate career and is more appreciative of the time spent.

“Not being able to compete at state for track my senior season does not even faze me now because I have a new journey awaiting me,” he said. “Honestly, I was a little surprised me with my results but for the most part, I let me confidence take over and I trusted my training. The training I have done leading up to that race took a lot of time and effort but it all paid off because I am exceeding my expectations at this point in the season. I was pleased with my results.”

Thomson will compete in his first 8K this weekend at the Biola Invite in Fullerton, Calif.