Thompson Breaks Four-Minute Mile

Contact: Dave Seat
Sports Information Director
Oklahoma Christian University
dave.seat@oc.edu / 405.425.5363

7-27-09

For Immediate Release

BRASCHAAT, Belgium (July 26, 2009) – Oklahoma Christian University head cross-country coach Mark Thompson ran a 3:59.29 mile to break the four-minute-mile barrier for the first time in his illustrious running career on Sunday. 

Thompson has been touring Europe during the month of July to run in a number of professional races. Sunday’s time broke Thompson’s previous mile personal best of 4:01.26, which he ran at the Morton Mile in Ireland earlier in the month. He placed third in the field.

“It went fantastic,” Thompson said. “I felt really, really good warming up, and I felt like it was in the cards for a sub-four race. I threw everything in today and everything came out great here. It’s been a long time coming at 30 years old, but I’m happy I’ll have this lifetime number.”

The time ranks in the top-25 mile performances in the United States this year.

“A sub-four is truly a gold standard of middle-distance running and kudos to Mark for staying the course. I believe this makes him only the second native Oklahoman to do achieve this feat,” said Thompson’s running coach Ashley Benjamin.

Joining Thompson on his tour of Europe is Oklahoma Christian assistant cross-country and track and field coach Sam Dech. Dech ran a personal best in the 800 meters on Friday in Belgium with a 1:49.91. The former All-American at Southern Nazarene (Okla.) also turned in a personal-record time of 3:43.19 in the 1,500 meters.

“Sam ran great also breaking the 1:50 barrier and setting a great personal best in the 1,500. They are both exemplary ambassadors for OC," said Benjamin.

Thompson won the mile run at the famous Morton Mile in Dublin, Ireland, with a his then-personal-best time of 4:01.20. Thompson was one of three Americans in the field and he edged Canada’s Geoff Martinson (4:01.65) for top honors.

Earlier on the trip, Thompson clocked a personal-best time 7:59.01 in the 3,000 meters at the Leon Buyle in Belgium, a time which ranks in the top-40 3,000-meter performances in the United States. Thompson also set a personal best in the 1,500 meters where he ran 3:42.57 in Belgium.

Thompson – who serves as an assistant track and field coach – helped two Oklahoma Christian athletes win NAIA national championships on the track this season. Senior Josh Wayland won the indoor 1,000 meters and sophomore Silas Kisorio was the national champ in the outdoor 800 meters.

The 30-year-old Thompson was a nine-time state champion runner in track and cross country at Edmond Memorial High School in the mid 1990s before running on two national-championship teams at the University of Arkansas. He was named OC’s head cross-country coach in December 2008.

-OC-