Henry Thomas (sprinter) 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 sprinter. He was a very talented runner in high school and college. Henry was good at many different races, from 100 meters to 400 meters. He even held the "World Youth best" for the 100 meters for over ten years. This means he ran faster than any other young person in the world at that time. He also set a World Youth best in the 400 meters just a week before. Henry is special because he was one of the few athletes to be ranked high in both the 100m and 400m races at the same time.
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High School Running Star
Henry Thomas was a key runner for Hawthorne High School in California during the 1980s. He helped his team win the important CIF California State Meet in both 1983 and 1984.
Setting Records
Henry was also a champion in individual races. He won the 200 metres in 1983 and 1984. His 200-meter state record lasted for 14 years! In 1984, he won the 100 metres, setting another state record that stood for five years. He had finished second in the 100m the year before.
Henry was also a strong team player. He helped his team win the 4 × 400 metres relay in both 1983 and 1984. In the 1983 relay, he made an amazing comeback, passing another runner named Danny Harris right at the end. Danny Harris later won a silver medal at the Olympics. The times for Hawthorne's 4x400m relay wins in 1983 and 1984 are still among the fastest ever. Hawthorne High School won this relay six years in a row!
Future NFL Players
Other famous athletes later broke Henry's records. Curtis Conway, who went on to play in the NFL, broke Henry's 100-meter record. Kareem Kelly, another future NFL player, broke Henry's 200-meter record.
National High School Record
In 1985, Henry's Hawthorne team set a National High School record in the 4x400m relay at the Texas Relays. Henry ran a very fast part of that race. A future Olympic gold medalist, Mike Marsh, was also on that record-setting team.
College and Olympic Dreams
After high school, Henry Thomas went to UCLA, a well-known university. He continued to be an outstanding runner there.
UCLA Achievements
At UCLA, Henry is ranked as one of the fastest runners in the school's history. He is ranked #2 all-time in the 200 meters, #3 in the 100 meters, and #7 in the 400 meters. Many of the runners ranked above him went on to win Olympic medals or set world records.
Henry helped the UCLA Bruins win the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships twice, in 1987 and 1988. He was also part of UCLA's record-setting 4x400-meter relay team. This team included other amazing runners like Danny Everett, Steve Lewis, and Kevin Young, who all became Olympic gold medalists.
Olympic Trials
Henry's best chance to make the Olympic team was in 1988 when he was 21 years old. He finished 7th in the 200m race at the Olympic Trials, representing the Santa Monica Track Club. Even though he didn't make the Olympic team that year, he had a remarkable career.
