Henry Thomas (athlete) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  American |
| Born | July 10, 1967 |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Running |
| Event(s) | 100 m, 200 m, 400 m |
| College team | UCLA Bruins |
| Club | Santa Monica Track Club |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | |
Henry Thomas, born on July 10, 1967, is a former American track and field athlete. He was a very fast runner, known for his skills in high school and college. Henry was good at different sprint races, from 100 meters to 400 meters.
He once held the world's best time for young athletes in the 100 meters. This record lasted for over 10 years! He also set a world best in the 400 meters just seven days before. Henry is special because he's the only runner to be ranked among the top athletes in both the 100m and 400m races at the same time.
Contents
High School Achievements
Henry Thomas was a star athlete at Hawthorne High School in California during the 1980s. He helped his team win the CIF California State Meet in track and field in both 1983 and 1984. This is a big competition for high school athletes in California.
Individual Records
Henry won many individual races. He won the 200 metres race in both 1983 and 1984. His 200-meter record lasted for 14 years! In 1984, he also won the 100 metres race. He had placed second in the 100m the year before. His 100-meter record stood for 5 years.
Relay Team Success
Henry was also a key part of his school's relay teams. He was the "anchor" runner for the 4 × 400 metres relay team. This means he ran the final part of the race. He helped his team win this relay in both 1983 and 1984.
The 1983 relay race was very exciting. Henry came from behind to pass another runner, Danny Harris, right at the end. Danny Harris later won a silver medal at the Olympics. The time set by Henry's team in the 1984 relay is still one of the fastest ever for high school teams. Hawthorne High School's relay team won this race for six years in a row!
Teammates and Records
Henry's 100-meter record was later broken by Curtis Conway, another Hawthorne High student who went on to play in the NFL (National Football League). His 200-meter record was broken by Kareem Kelly, who also played in the NFL.
In 1985, Henry's team set a National High School record in the 4 × 400-meter relay at the Texas Relays. This record still stands today! A future Olympic gold medalist, Mike Marsh, was also on that team. Soon after, Henry had to have surgery for appendicitis and couldn't compete. Mike Marsh won the 200-meter state meet in his place.
In 2010, Henry Thomas, Mike Marsh, Michael Graham, and Sean Kelly met to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their record-breaking relay.
College Career
Henry Thomas went to UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) for college. He continued to be a top runner there. He is ranked very high in UCLA's history for his sprint times:
- #2 all-time in the 200 meters.
- #3 all-time in the 100 meters.
- #7 all-time in the 400 meters.
Most of the runners ranked ahead of him at UCLA went on to win Olympic medals or set world records. Henry helped the UCLA track team win the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships twice, in 1987 and 1988. He was also the anchor runner for UCLA's record-setting 4 × 400-meter relay team. This team included other future Olympic gold medalists like Danny Everett, Steve Lewis, and Kevin Young.
In 1988, after trying to make the Olympic team, Henry decided to try out for the UCLA football team. He said he was making his own choices and wanted to try something new.
