Just Like The Movies

From basketball court to high jump, Auburn's Thomas has taken unlikely path to national championship

March 20, 2007

By Brett Hess

Special to CSTV.com

	Brett Hess Brett Hess covers Cross Country for CSTV.com E-mail here!

        ---   Column Archive   --- TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY 11/19: Kipyego, Stanford Win As Expected 11/19: Blow For Blow To The Finish 11/16: Practically A Sure Thing 11/16: Championship Field Is A History Lesson In Motion 11/6: Irish Hope Shay Is An Inspiration 10/30: Louisville's Emergence Continues 10/23: No Margin For Error 10/16: Kuijken, FSU Race Toward Postseason 10/09: Liberty's McDougal Begins Run For Title 10/02: Rice Women Surprise At Notre Dame 9/25: Invitational Season In Full Swing 9/19: Still Pinching Herself 9/11: Kipyego, Barringer Are Favorites 9/4: Lomong and Rupp Lead Returnees 6/8: Texas Tech's Kipyego Closes In On History 6/7: Arizona's Arnold Sets Record in Decathlon 6/5: FSU Isn't Feeling The Pressure 6/5: Throwers Lead Sun Devils to Sacramento 5/29: Stars Shine at NCAA Regional Meets 5/26: Florida State Primed For East Regional Title 5/26: Top-Ranked LSU Women Trailing At Mideast Regional 5/22: Hastings Does It Her Way 5/15: Wisconsin, Omole Make History at Big Ten Meet 5/8: Notre Dame's Huddle Finishing Strong 5/1: Drake or Penn? Why Not Both? 4/24: Hokies Show Courage In Competing 4/17: Senioritis is Good for Diana Pickler 4/10: Little Longhorn With Big Heart 3/26: Patience Pays Off For Duke's Rowbury 3/20: Just Like The Movies 3/11: Solinsky Leads Wisconsin To First-Ever Track Title 3/11: Front-Running Sun Devils 3/11: Saluki Strong 3/9: The Dual Is On 3/9: Stevens Helps Pace Sun Devils To Early Lead 3/6: Outdoor Champ FSU Favored Indoors 3/5: Sun Devils Look to Take Next Step 2/20: As Belt Leaps Higher, So Does L'ville 2/6: Huskies Running Out In Front 11/19: Stanford's Aiming For Repeat 11/19: Wisconsin Favored To Defend Title

The story of Donald Thomas seems too good to be true. It plays out like a plot in some corny PG-rated movie. You know the type: an athlete comes out of nowhere to win the national championship.

Let's set the scene: over dinner, a basketball player at a tiny NAIA school is trading friendly barbs with members of the school's track team. A bet is made: either the player can high jump 6-feet-7 or he can't.

The after-dinner crowd heads over to the field house where the basketball player, still wearing his basketball shoes, jumps 6-4, then 6-7 and 6-8 without missing. After two more successful jumps, the bar is raised to an even 7-feet.

Now, stop the movie right there. Would it really matter if the basketball player, wearing basketball shoes, clears 7-feet in the high jump? He's never even tried the high jump before, let alone been coached on technique. So, if he misses, wouldn't it still be a great story? He could still go on to compete for his small college and be featured in the local newspaper.

Well, the basketball player was about to become a high-profile track athlete. The moment that Donald Thomas, a senior at Lindenwood University in Missouri, cleared that 7-foot bar, his life was forever changed.

"That was Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006," Thomas says, proudly recalling the date. "We ran over to the track coach's office. On Saturday, I jumped 7-3 1/4 to win a meet at Eastern Illinois."

Now, if the movie stopped there, it would still be a great story. But, of course, it doesn't.

Less than 14 months later Thomas is on the nation's biggest stage, out-jumping the best to win the NCAA Indoor National Championship.

The movie could end here, or it could continue on with Thomas jumping in the 2008 Olympic Games. If that sounds far-fetched to you, then you haven't been paying attention.

"I've been around track a long, long time," said Auburn track coach Ralph Spry. "All the years in high school, then college and in coaching. I've never seen anything like Donald's story. It's amazing."

Thomas went on to place second in last spring's NAIA national championships (still jumping in basketball shoes, too) and then after graduation, headed on to Auburn where he enrolled in graduate school. He has one year of NCAA eligibility, which got off to a roaring start last weekend in Arkansas. Thomas, again without a miss, jumped to the NCAA championship, clearing 7-7 3/4. He then missed on all three attempts at the Collegiate Record of 7-9 1/2.

Thomas is a native of the Bahamas and a relative of Auburn sprint coach Henry Rolle. His track coach at Lindenwood, Lane Lohr, was coached by the Auburn jumps coach Jerry Clayton. It was Clayton who coached United States record holder Charles Austin to his 7-10.5 mark. Those three factors helped guide Thomas to Auburn where he plans to train for two years and make an Olympic bid. But there's still that part of the story, the beginning, that's hard to believe. Was he really jumping in basketball shoes? Where did he learn his technique? Why didn't he try high jumping before his senior year in college?

"Yes, I was jumping in basketball shoes," Thomas said in response to the story-turned-legend. "I didn't have high jump shoes."

In fact, Thomas still doesn't wear high jump shoes. He prefers pole vault shoes because there isn't a spike in the heel.

As for the technique, it's just what he's seen others do. And why not before?

"I still love basketball," said the 6-foot-2 Thomas. "I averaged about 14 points and 7 rebounds a game my senior year (at Lindenwood). Even now, I sneak out of practice to get a drink of water and start shooting baskets until they come and get me."

As for not trying high jump in the Bahamas? Thomas was so intent on getting a college scholarship for basketball that he never tried other sports. In fact, his favorite jumping activity involved dunking a basketball.

Thomas claims he could leap from the foul line and dunk. He says he can also jump over 6-foot-2 players and dunk. The last time someone doubted Thomas, well, you know the story.

But now Thomas is making up for lost time, but in a patient way.

"He brings the whole package," said Clayton. "He's got the natural ability and talent, of course, and he's a great competitor. He's very mentally strong."

 Clayton said the plan is to bring Thomas along slowly.

"He's still new to the sport and we don't want to get too technical too soon," Clayton said. "We don't want him to lose his rhythm or his confidence."

For his part, Thomas loves Auburn and the high jump. His work ethic is sound, says Clayton.

"How much can he improve?" Clayton asked. "Who knows. He's every bit as talented and dedicated as Charles. I don't think anyone knows yet how good Donald can be."