Riley Thompson doesn’t mind competition. He looks for it.
During the recent fall break when people may have eased up on their practice schedules, Thompson was out West running in the Run the Rocks 5K race in Colorado. He placed first in the 13-19 age group and was second overall. It came in an “off” week.
It’s the competition where Thompson thrives – both in athletics and the classroom.
The Trigg County High School senior will compete in his final high school cross country race on Saturday – the KHSAA Class 2A State Meet in Lexington.
It will be his third state meet run – he was 87th last year in Bourbon County but will tackle a course he hasn’t run before at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Thompson has three straight top-20 finishes in the region cross country meet, the latest coming Saturday with a ninth-place finish in Owensboro.
He said cross country is a sport that allows one to put in the work and see the results physically, mentally, and on paper.
“Ever ever since I can remember I’ve just worked my butt off to do anything and everything I’ve done. I’m very goal-oriented, so when I don’t meet my goals, I get really mad,” he said. “That’s why I feel like cross country is a really good sport for that.”
After two years of running with and behind All-State runner Austin Cavanaugh, Thompson has assumed the roles of lead runner and leader for this year’s Trigg team.
“Riley has stepped up to be a leader as the constant senior on the team. He encourages all of the runners, especially the elementary and middle school athletes,” said Trigg County cross country coach Latrita Russell. “He runs above and beyond what I or Coach (Nikita) Barbee ask for. He sets goals and pushes himself to meet them.”
Thompson also plays on the baseball team where his running skills were used primarily as a courtesy runner – a permanent in-game punch runner for the pitcher or catcher. He stole seven bases in eight attempts last year and scored six runs.
“I just like the game. I don’t really care about playing. I don’t get much playing time, but it’s fun so it’s all matters,” Thompson said.
Off the course, Thompson is active in several clubs including DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) where he serves as the state vice-president.
“I’ve been doing that for a few years. I’m really involved in that and enjoy it.”
Thompson is also in the school’s technology club.
Over the summer, Thompson participated in the Governor’s Scholars Program, a competitive education-based program that spotlights the best and brightest rising seniors in the state.
“The whole application process is crazy. I’m super competitive so I wanted that,” he said.
While he was at the three-week GSP at Morehead State University, Thompson was able to meet other track and cross country runners and was able to keep up his summer workouts to stay in shape for the fall cross country season.
A 4.0 student who ventures in the 4.8 range when college credit courses are factored in, Thompson hopes to move into the financial field after college.
“I plan to go to the University of Kentucky and major in finance next year. I want to be a financial advisor, but I also want to monitor public policy,” he said. “I’m just super-excited for the college experience. I’ve been grinding this year so I’m excited to get that underway.”
First things first. Thompson and his Trigg County teammates will run Saturday in the Class 2A State Cross Country Meet in Lexington.
