Norwood runner is being courted by NCAA universities
Kawartha Lakes Lightning Club’s Thompson finishes second in women’s division at the Canada Army Run
NORWOOD — Running has become Marisha Thompson’s calling.
The Grade 12 Norwood District High School student is being courted by NCAA schools who have taken notice of her accomplishments in recent years.
Her latest feat was a secondplace finish in the women’s division, 30th overall, in the Canada Army Run 10K in Ottawa on Sept. 22. Now the Kawartha Lakes Lightning Running Club member is turning her attention to the cross-country season.
Thompson, 17, joined the running club a year ago after winning a COSSA cross country gold medal in Grade 10 which opened her eyes to her potential.
“I won COSSA with barely any training,” Thompson said. “I thought if I started training I could do much more.”
One of her first events with the Lightning was the Ontario cross country championships last fall where she placed second in the U20 division at age 16 at Seneca College. She placed 50th at nationals in Kingston.
Training with Lightning head coach Darl Sutherland, she has seen big improvement in the past year. She won the Athletics Ontario U-20 3,000-metre steeplechase championship in June.
She qualified for the Canadian championships in Montreal in July but was unable to run because of a foot injury.
“I got tested for a stress fracture but nothing came up,” she said.
She was off training for a month to let it heal returning to practice a month before the Army Run.
The Army Run is one of the largest sporting events held annually in the Capital Region. It attracts several thousands runners for multiple race distances.
It’s hosted by the Canadian Armed Forces and has a distinct military flavour. The start line is at the Canadian War Museum, the starting gun is a cannon and all runners receive dog tag medallions upon finishing the race.
Thompson and her mother Karen have run the event in the past but this was Marisha’s first time tackling the 10k distance. Her time of 40:54.9 was 2:17.7 behind winner Kerri Labrecque.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said. “I was just going to do it for fun but when I started I felt pretty good so I started pushing it more toward the end. I ended up running a pretty good time. I definitely surprised myself. It opens doors to maybe doing some more 10k races as I’m used to doing the 5k and 3,000 on track.”
Now cross country becomes the focus. Her first race will be the Bay of Quinte Invitational on Oct. 10. She set the course record for senior girls las year.
“My goal is to break that record hopefully this year and compete for another COSSA championship,” she said.
She’ll find no shortage of competition as Adam Scott Collegiate’s Molly Strain, who has moved up to senior this year, is also among the province’s elite teenaged distance runners. Thompson said she does not view Strain, who runs for the Peterborough Legion Track Club, as a rival.
“It’s cool to have someone just as fast as you to push you in races,” Thompson said.
“I don’t think I’d have been able to hit some of the times I did in steeplechase without someone pushing me. We’re both pushing each other to run faster times.”
Thompson has visited NCAA schools and has an offer on the table from a Florida university. She has more visits scheduled prior to the signing period which starts in mid-November.
“I know the track and field atmosphere is different in the States. It will be cool to run against people from different areas,” she said.
Kawartha Lakes Lightning results
The Kawartha Lakes Lightning Running Club posted strong results at an invitational cross country high school meet held Sept. 24 at Ganaraska Park.
Grace Murphy won the midget girls race with Mikayla harnett finishing 23rd.
Charlie Konyer placed second in junior girls a major improvements from last year. Paige Mackey was 28th. Faith Campbell finished 16th In senior girls.
In junior boys, Ty Finley finished sixth overall.