Thompson, Peters set for Pan American Games

Mississippi State's Curtis Thompson will represent the United States at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, next week alongside his teammate and two-time NCAA champion Anderson Peters.

The pair will compete for the United States and Grenada, respectively, and rank first and second in MSU'S history in the javelin. Peters threw his school record mark of 86.62 meters (2842) to win the 2019 NCAA title. That mark also stands as the Grenadian national record and the NCAA Championships meet record.

Thompson, a native of Florence, New Jersey, was added to the Team USA roster when the federation was ordered to reselect the delegation after a clerical error was discovered in the athletes' rankings. His career best came at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials when he launched the implement 82.88 meters (271-11), which stood as the Bulldog record at the time, but was just shy of the Olympic standard. Thompson won the NCAA title in 2016 and the USATF Championship in 2018.

“It's great that we're being represented at these international competitions,” MSU head coach Chris Woods said. “I know it's an honor for both Anderson and Curtis to be able to represent both Mississippi State and their countries, as well.”

The pair will throw on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 3:45 p.m. They are joined in Lima by sophomore 800-meter runner Marco Arop, who will compete for Canada.

The Pan Am Games feature 39 sports and 61 disciplines. The third-largest international multi-sport games welcomes a total of 6,680 athletes from 41 nations.

Two athletes with State ties who were previously announced on rosters for the Games will no longer be competing. The same error that added Thompson to the American roster has resulted in the removal of high jumper Logan Boss.

Bulldog alum Brandon Mcbride announced he would forgo the competition at last week's Athletics Canada Championships where the Bulldog Olympian won his nation's 800-meter crown.